Sun | Jan 25, 2026

Fernando steals Rimsky Trophy

Published:Sunday | January 25, 2026 | 12:21 AMAinsley Walters - Gleaner Writer
Jockey Raddesh Roman (right) reacts after his mount, FERNANDO, nips ahead of the field to steal the Rimsky Trophy over six furlongs at Caymanas Park yesterday.
Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer
Jockey Raddesh Roman (right) reacts after his mount, FERNANDO, nips ahead of the field to steal the Rimsky Trophy over six furlongs at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Fernando yesterday became the second Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes-placed runner to win on return as a three-year-old, charging from sixth position at the top of the straight after being tailed off down the backstretch, to nail 12-1 outsider ANY MEANS stealing home in the six-furlong Rimsky Trophy.

Similar to his dam, Dancing Queen, FERNANDO, third behind WE JAMMIN in the Boxing Day Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes, was named after a hit song by Swedish pop group ABBA.

Recovering from a slow start, FERNANDO showed the staying prowess of his sire, Successful Native, to straighten sixth along the rail behind 6-5 favourite TAYLOR MADE and VICTORIOUS LINKS battling on the lead, both seeking back-to-back victories after winning debuts.

Meanwhile, ANY MEANS, a United States-bred grey, who had placed fourth behind out-of-class PHENOMENAL POWER on his December 13 debut, crept into third place along the rail, pouncing a furlong and a half out to get first run on the tiring pair of TAYLOR MADE and VICTORIOUS LINKS.

Looking all set to pull off the gamble at odds of 12-1 while TAYLOR MADE and VICTORIOUS LINKS took turns weakening on the lead, ANY MEANS inched ahead of the local-breds but fell to FERNANDO, who was switched from behind the trio by Raddesh Roman a half-furlong out, slightly taking UNCLE NALLY’s ground in mid-track but not enough to trigger a stewards’ enquiry.

Ridden out by Roman, FERNANDO ran by ANY MEANS, winning by a half-length in 1:14.2, franking the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes from which fourth-place BIGGER BOSS emerged a recent winner on his three-year-old debut.

UNCLE NALLY stayed on for third ahead of VICTORIOUS LINKS whereas bred-to-sprint TAYLOR MADE was eased by his rider and finished down the track in the nine-horse field.

FERNANDO closed a jockey-trainer two-timer for Roman and Anthony Nunes after combining to land the fifth with 3-5 favourite THE HOT DANCER, down in class on a $500,000 claim tag in the fifth race following a recent victory among non-winners of four races.

Racing continues on Saturday, January’s closing meet.