Champion jockey Raddesh Roman continued his dazzling run of form at Caymanas Park on Saturday, as he registered a clinical four-timer headlined by a commanding victory aboard Burning Hedge in the season’s first classic, the 1000 Guineas.

With confidence sky-high and his riding at its sharpest, Roman partnered Carl Anderson’s precocious filly to a near-flawless performance in the Futurity event for three-year-old fillies, as they covered the mile in 1:41.3 to secure a five-and-three-quarter-length triumph.

The victory not only cemented Roman’s status as the island’s leading reinsman this season but also netted a $4 million purse for Anderson, who wore multiple hats on the day—trainer, owner, and breeder of the Hedge Fund–Burning Clearance progeny.

Sent off as the overwhelming 3-2 favourite, Burning Hedge justified the market confidence and continued a resurgence in form that began with a second-place run in the Portmore Stakes, her final prep for Saturday’s assignment.

Her early talent had already been exposed with a victory in the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes at a mile last season. Though she had hit a minor rough patch since, Anderson kept faith and was handsomely rewarded.

Carl Anderson (glasses on forehead) and connections share a photo opportunity. (Photos: Caymanas Racing)

Breaking from post position three, Roman tactically kept his filly off the early pace as No Apology (Oshane Nugent) and Wayne’sCherryLinks (Reyan Lewis) dictated the tempo down the backstretch.

As the field swept past the half-mile pole, the action intensified with Danka (Wesley Henry), Linguist (Dick Cardenas), and Hansa (Dane Dawkins) making bold moves. Roman, meanwhile, had to exercise patience as Burning Hedge was briefly boxed in and battling traffic.

Turning for home, the leaders were locked in a three-way duel, but Roman found a seam on the outside and unleashed his mount’s telling turn of foot. Burning Hedge surged past the tiring front-runners with authority, sprinting clear in the final furlong.

Linguist stayed on gamely for second, as Mighty Gully (Oneil Mullings) finished strongly to claim third, and early contender Hansa faded to fourth.

Roman’s other wins on the day underscored his superb touch in the saddle. He opened his account in the first race with Maya for Phillip Elliott, followed up in the fifth aboard Woman in Love for Peter-John Parsard, and made it three aboard J Spieth for Jason DaCosta in the sixth event.

Racing resumes on Sunday with the running of the 2000 Guineas.