Oil Machine powers home after Walker’s tactical masterstroke

SIX-TIME CHAMPION Omar Walker took Raddesh Roman to jockeys’ school aboard OIL MACHINE in yesterday’s Menudo Trophy, outsmarting the two-time defending champion, who is in a battle with Tevin Foster for a third consecutive title.

Partnering course-specialist NEO STAR in the nine-furlong-and-25-yard feature event, Roman got trapped along the rail down the backstretch behind SHEER DELIGHT and CALIFORNIA GOLD.

Stalking from fourth, Walker made a decisive move to bid wide of the leaders at the half-mile marker, whereas Roman kept 1-5 favourite NEO STAR stuck to the rail, maybe hoping SHEER DELIGHT would have given way approaching the three-furlong point.

However, SHEER DELIGHT conceded no racing room, shutting out NEO STAR, forcing Roman to check his advance, whereas Walker got first run into the lane with 3-1 chance OIL MACHINE, claiming the rail where he knew his challenger would have launched his attack in the stretch run.

Urging OIL MACHINE to close the rail coming off the turn, Walker dulled NEO STAR’s charge a furlong and a half out, keeping Roman in tight quarters while rousing his mount to quicken away.

Roman switched NEO STAR from off the rail but Walker had long flown the coop, winning by a length and a half in 1:58.2.

Meanwhile, Foster, who lost the 2024 jockeys’ title race by one winner to Roman, a thrilling battle in the last race of the year, responded to his rival’s three-timer lodged on Saturday by closing the nine-race card with back-to-back winners.

Roman, who started the afternoon 10 behind Foster, reduced the deficit to nine by booting home 3-5 favourite SONNY T AND CHIPPY in the second event. Foster, however, won the last double, 4-5 favourite CHANCES ARE and 6-1 chance ALKEBULAN, extending his lead to 11 ahead of this weekend’s Saturday-Sunday meet.

Earlier, MY FRIEND MICKI stunned Reggae 6 bettors at odds of 18-1 in the fifth event, resulting in a $510,978 payout to nine winning tickets, ranging from a low of $480 to $16,200, a bet which started and closed with winning favourites.