Claiming apprentices who recently graduated from the Jockeys' School held their own at Caymanas Park yesterday, winning four of the nine races.

Signalling their intention from early, Jevvanne Erwin produced the 6-1 chance PEACE BY PEACE with a strong run midway through the last furlong for a mild upset in the opening race over the circular nine course.

In the fifth race, Erwin just failed to make it number two when his mount PICCOLO, a 38-1 outsider, failed by half-a-length to catch PRINCE RIDELL over 1500 metres.

But the young riders were back on the winning trail later on the programme, winning the last three races.

In the seventh apprentice Cavel Brown ticked off his first career win, aboard 4-1 chance THUNDER STORM for trainer Dennis Lee, outfinishing the 4-5 favourite JET SKIER under Paul 'Country' Francis in a driving finish over 1200 metres.

Most promising

Richard Mairs, one of the most promising in the batch of 19, followed suit aboard the highly fancied SMOOTH DIAMOND (9-5) in the eighth race over 1800 metres.

Despite missing the break, the American filly cruised into a clear lead on the inside leaving the half-mile, scoring by 3 3/4 lengths from long-time leader and 8-5 favourite GHOST RAPPER, who just held on for second from the fast-finishing 99-1 sho, RUNNING LOOSE, as the apprentices occupied the first three places. Mairs has now ridden five winners since he started riding on September 2.

In the closing race over 1700 metres, Aaron Chatrie brought the slow-starting 3-5 favourite SIRLEIGH with a devastating stretch run to catch the leader DAZZLE THEM close home.

Meanwhile, MAMBO, running at odds of 6-5 with champion jockey Omar Walker up, came through a furlong out to win the mile-and-quarter feature race for the Monica Todd Memorial Cup by three lengths.