On Saturday, April 18, 2026, a rising star in North American thoroughbred racing cemented his status as one of the most promising three-year-olds on the circuit, securing his second consecutive dominant win to take home the $1.4 million Saint Cecelia Cup feature at Jamaica’s iconic Caymanas Park.
Conditioned by Anthony “Baba” Nunes, a three-time former champion trainer widely regarded as one of the sport’s leading talents, the talented young colt delivered a masterclass in front-running racing. Competing in the Overnight Allowance event open to three-year-olds and older runners over the 6½ furlong (1,300 meter) distance, Sir Don crossed the finish line a full 3¾ lengths ahead of his closest competitor, building on an impressive prior win over 7½ furlongs (1,500 meters) just weeks earlier.
With his regular jockey Raddesh “Sneaky Fox” Roman in the irons, Sir Don broke cleanly and quickly from starting gate number two, wasting no time to claim the front position before the field had even traveled a furlong. As the pack settled approaching the half-mile (800 meter) mark, the early chase was led by Goodbye Firefly, ridden by Tajay Suckoo, followed closely by Wall Street Trader with Christopher Mamdeen up and Zulu Warrior, piloted by Tyrese Anderson.
Pre-race hype centered on a highly anticipated showdown between Sir Don and Mojito, the defending Jamaica Cup champion who entered the event as the second-ranked favorite. That expected clash never materialized, however. The fan-favorite grey runner, widely billed as the most accomplished horse in the 12-horse field, got off to a slow start out of the gate. While he gained some ground mid-race, he never found his stride to challenge the leader, holding a spot no higher than fourth for the entirety of the contest.
On a rain-soaked, sloppy track that had been softened by pre-race showers, Sir Don shifted into another gear as the field turned for home and entered the final stretch. Displaying a level of poise and competitive grit that defied his young age, he rapidly opened a clear gap over the rest of the chasing pack and powered down the stretch in unchallenged fashion, leaving other contenders to fight only for the lower podium positions.
When the field crossed the wire, Sir Don was well clear of the pack, with Goodbye Firefly taking second place, Wall Street Trader securing third, and Zulu Warrior finishing fourth. Mojito, making his first start of the 2026 season, never mounted a late charge to threaten the top positions.
The win has solidified Sir Don’s fast-growing reputation as a future star in the sport, with racing analysts noting that the young three-year-old is seamlessly closing the gap between age-group competition and elite open class with apparent ease. That trajectory points to a promising future in higher-stakes races in the coming months.
Speaking to reporters on race day, Nigel Burke, who was filling in for his uncle trainer Anthony Nunes, downplayed his own role in the victory. “I had not much to tell the jockey. He has ridden him [Sir Don] for all his starts and so I just told him it is up to him, good luck and safe trip,” Burke explained. “I am just here to cover for my uncle but the team has done a great job with him. I just kind of oversaw everything. I watched his replay last time and he seemed to love the sloppy condition and so I wasn’t concerned about the rain.”
The event was documented by photographer Naphtali Junior, who captured images of groom Steven Smith leading the champion colt into the winner’s enclosure, as well as jockey Raddesh Roman unsaddling Sir Don after the race.