Javier Castellano also had the advantage of having a fast early pace set by the likes of Legacy Isle and Pack Plays, who contested the early lead and who both ran sub 10.5s for the 2nd furlong. Having that fast pace to track from horses who were unlikely to see out the trip after such early exertions gave Rideallday the perfect target to aim at. It wasn’t an entirely straight forward success for the pair as Rideallday wandered around in the home straight after changing his lead legs and had to be brought across to the inside rail to keep him on a true line. However, once across to the rail, he was readily able to assert in the final furlong and having run the fastest final 3 splits in the field, he won going away with the best run-out speed in the field at 31.79 mph. Rideallday was a clear best on the day, but with a finishing speed of 92% for the winner, we should also spare a thought for the runner-up. Legacy Isle set some fast early fractions and was still in front with 300m to run. He tired considerably and his late speed figure of 31.57 mph was much slower than the 34.01 mph recorded by Rideallday. However, having faced early competition for the lead and having set such fast fractions to give himself a winning chance, he did well to hold on for 2nd place given the energy that he expended to get there.

The winner is a son of the Spendthrift Farm Stallion Vekoma, who was the Champion First-Crop Sire in North America for 2024. He won the Runhappy Carter Handicap (G1) and the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at the end of a top class career for George Weaver in 2020. Javier Castellano was onboard for both of those Grade 1 successes and so it is very apt that he was able to travel to ride one of his sons to victory in one of the biggest races on the Jamaican Racing Calendar.