Phenomenal Power breaks 43-year Caymanas Park record in Clovis Metcalfe Trophy

Phenomenal Power lowered a 43-year benchmark at Caymanas Park on Saturday, controlling the fifth running of the Clovis Metcalfe Trophy overnight allowance event for three-year-olds and upward over seven and a half furlongs from gate to wire.

Sent off at 4-2-1, the imported dark bay colt posted back-to-back victories despite another barn switch and a four-month layoff. Ridden by two-time champion jockey Robert Roman and racing without a tongue tie, the three-year-old faced little resistance as he pulled steadily clear of the field.

Conditioner Adrian Prince recorded fractions of 23.3, 45.4 and 1:10.1 before Phenomenal Power stopped the clock at 1:29.0 flat. That time bettered the previous seven-and-a-half-furlong standard of 1:29.2 set by Sky Train under Errol Miller for trainer Michael Lee in 1983. Diesel Train chased home second, roughly four to five lengths behind and eventually beaten by 11¼ lengths. Royal Poppy finished third, Interesting Times Ahead was fourth and Grovano fifth.

Prince said he was elated with the performance and praised the ability of a horse he received from Mr. Fiyani. "I'm feeling great, very elated. Nice horse in the making, Phenomenal Power. Got this horse from Mr. Fiyani with a lot of ability and credential. So, I just keep him on the edge that I get him on and is afternoon, he deliver really well. But surprising, we don't track record, but expect much things going forward. So, I just hope he keeps on. And we can have many more success."

Roman said he viewed the assignment as straightforward and had told Prince beforehand that a record was possible. "This horse is a very versatile horse, and I knew it would be a pretty easy race today. As I told the trainer, I think he would break the record today, and that's what he did. But races like that sometime, you can't win every day, but you just have to continue work hard and put in the hard work. So, when I get the good ones, I can put them away."

On the wider programme, jockeys Devon Foster and Tevin Anderson each rode two winners, while trainer Oral Hayden saddled a pair of victors. Racing continues on Sunday with the Jamaica St Leger, the second leg of the Jamaica Triple Crown series.