Commander Z lays tag-team plan to waste

United States-bred COMMANDER Z produced a stunning 11-1 reversal of form after double-digit defeats in his previous four races to outclass champion trainer Jason DaCosta’s local-breds, I DREAM AGAIN and STARRAURA, by one-and-a-quarter lengths in the Kaz Hoshay Trophy over five-and-a-half furlongs.

Bringing the 10-race card to a close, and amid a meeting dominated by Tevin Foster’s five-timer, COMMANDER Z broke sharply from the widest draw, stall 14, in the overnight allowance contest. With journeyman Ian Spence aboard, he shot to the lead ahead of I DREAM AGAIN and STARRAURA a half-mile from home.

The American-bred runner, who returned from a six-month lay-up last Saturday and finished eighth in a five-furlong event won by ANOTHER ONE, maintained his gallop strongly to repel the persistent challenges of I DREAM AGAIN and STARRAURA all the way to the winning post.

COMMANDER Z’s winning time of 1:06.0 bettered the 1:06.1 recorded by MCMULLEN, another American import, in the previous race. That victory was MCMULLEN’s second start on local soil following a win at Gulfstream Park in Florida last December.

Foster, who lost a thrilling 2024 title race to Raddesh Roman in the final race of the year, served notice on the sidelined two-time defending champion by moving one win clear in the jockeys’ standings after steering home five winners.

Fresh from Thursday’s Jamaica Derby triumph aboard DaCosta’s LONDON SPIRIT by a nose, Foster won half of the day’s 10-race programme. He partnered MODERN MONARCH, MONEY BOX, PRINCESS FIANIE, VICTORIOUS LINKS and SKYRIZI, signalling his intent to mount another challenge for the title held by Roman since their see-saw battle two years ago.

Racing continues today before next week’s Saturday-Sunday meet, which will close out August.