In a display of sheer determination and resilience, the bay filly Victorious Links, trained by Lawrence Freemantle, secured a dramatic victory in a $1.05-million maiden condition race for native-bred three-year-olds on Saturday, January 3, 2026. The event, held over 5½ furlongs (1,100m), saw the horse make a triumphant return to the track after a postponed debut in October 2025.
Ridden by jockey Dane Dawkins, Victorious Links overcame a less-than-ideal start to engage in a fierce battle with rival contender Mo Pai, piloted by Tajay Suckoo. The two horses delivered a heart-stopping finish, with Victorious Links clinching the win by a narrow head margin. The official winning time was recorded at 1:09.4.
Trainer Lawrence Freemantle attributed the success to a carefully managed recovery and preparation period. The filly had previously been scratched from her intended debut after becoming fractious and injuring herself in the box. ‘I had to give her some time to recover and re-programme her,’ Freemantle explained. ‘Her preparation coming into this race was fairly well, giving me all the confidence.’
Despite the victory, Freemantle noted there is room for improvement. ‘I thought she would have won a little easier than she did,’ he commented to the Jamaica Observer’s The Supreme Racing Guide. ‘She didn’t get a brilliant start, and so I still have to give thanks for the victory. The performance was good, and she can only improve from here on.’
Bred by Western Warrior out of the Handsome Mike mare Victory Turn, Victorious Links demonstrated significant grit during the race. After matching strides with Dark Authority (ridden by Raddesh Roman) approaching the half-mile mark, she took the lead a furlong out, only to be challenged by a late surge from Mo Pai in the final stretch.
With this win marking a positive start to the 2026 racing season, Freemantle expressed optimism for the year ahead. Reflecting on his previous season’s record of six wins from 32 starts, he stated, ‘My expectations have always been high; once I have the quality horses, I can get the job. I am expecting to do well this year.’
The winner’s enclosure celebration included trainer Lawrence Freemantle, owner Ian Lodge, jockey Dane Dawkins, and other connections, captured in a photo by Karl Mclarty.