Florida-based Jamaican jockey, Allen Maragh, piloted the United States-bred five-year-old gelding Storm Street to an impressive victory in the Arima Race Club Cup on Saturday at Santa Rosa Park.

Profiting from a confident ride by the experienced Maragh, Storm Street came from behind and accelerated for a five-length victory in the TT$100,000 (US$16,207) event over 1800 metres for trainer Chester Roberts and owner Derek Chin.

It was the second major win in 10 weeks in Trinidad and Tobago for Maragh, who had won the St Ann's Stakes with the Jamaica-bred Enchanted Alex on December 6.

Early pace

Positioned near the back of the six-horse field while the US-bred six-year-old Straight Ahead set the early pace, Maragh was patient throughout and when he challenged for the lead, the four-year-old Just In Time had taken over from Straight Ahead.

Storm Street shot clear leaving the backstretch and scored an uncontested victory over Just In Time, clocking one minute 52.00 seconds.

Chief Commander, who had scored a narrow win over Storm Street in the GH Gold Cup in December, hardly threatened and was third, a further 6-1/4 lengths behind with ex-champion jockey Brian Harding aboard.

Early candidate

Meanwhile, the Jamaica-bred Illusionist won the 1750-metre third race with Lorne Keizer aboard to stake his claim as an early candidate for the classics. A three-year-old colt, bred - Image Maker out of Gamma Knife - by Argull Farms Ltd, Illusionist won by half length for trainer John O'Brien.

Illusionist won ahead of Mission King and Enchanted Alex, with Maragh astride, as Jamaica-bred horses filled the first three spots in the 1750-metre event. The winning time was 1:55.60.

Apprentice rider Ronald Ali led the riders with three wins to move into joint fourth in the early 2009 jockeys' standings. He is in a group of five riders - including reigning champion Ricky Jadoo and Barbadian Chris Husbands - sharing fourth, behind leader Nicholas Patrick (6), Harding (5) and Keizer (4).