Walcott registers three weekend wins

EDMONTON, Canada – Reigning champion jockey Rico Walcott announced himself at the newly minted season at Century Mile on Sunday by  winning three times on the ten-race card.

The Barbadian won race three with favourite Roman Steel, returned to capture race five with another favourite Sheltered Bay before winning race eight with yet another favourite Bab’s Delight.

Jamaican Andre Martin, who rode a triple on last Friday’s card, also tasted success on Sunday when he partnered with 6-5 War Giant to win the CAN$25 000 race one over five furlongs for the three-year-olds and upward.

Walcott, a multiple time champion at the now defunct Northlands Park, did not feature on last Friday’s opening card but wasted little time in getting himself into winners’ row.

He kicked off his success over five furlongs when he made all the running with Roman Steel to edge the three-year-olds and upward by a head in 58.61.

The four-year-old bay gelding led by as much as four lengths at one stage but saw his lead whittled down in the stretch to barely hold on for the win from 4-1 chance Adrien’s Aurora.

Walcott’s second victory also came over five furlongs in another front-running effort, combining with dark bay filly Sheltered Bay to crush the three-year-old maiden fillies by five lengths in a time of 57.77.

Sheltered Bay sprinted clear while chased by Shannon’s Secret but was never really challenged.

Walcott then brought Bab’s Delight off the pace to beat the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares by half-length over five furlongs.

Miss McFad battled Music at Work and Count On it through the early stages before Walcott got the four-year-old bay filly up late. (CMC)