Horse Racing Barbados | Gold Cup Fever

Gold Cup fever

Ten race card awaits fans

Added by Barbados Today on March 7, 2015.
Saved under Horse Racing, Sports

Thousands of Barbadians and visitors to the island are expected to turn up at the Garrison Savannah today to watch the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup, the region’s most prestigious horse race.

Started back in 1982 by the manufacturers of Cockspur Rum – it was first known as the Cockspur Gold Cup – Sandy Lane Hotel took up its sponsorship 19 years ago and it has continued to grow from strength to strength.

Ten races are listed on the day’s card with the first race scheduled to start at 12 noon.

The feature event, the Gold Cup, is set to run off at 4.40 p.m.with ten horses listed to face starter Mark Batson.

 Only two overseas horses are down to face the starter, and these are Sayler’s Creek andGentleman’s Kitten, both owned by Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, also the owners of last year’s winner Major Marvel.

Of the two, Gentleman’s Kitten seems to be the better horse and based on his performances in the United States it appears he is the horse to beat.

 His chances are made even better by virtue of having top Barbadian jockey Patrick Husbands aboard. He also rode last year’s winner.

 The other overseas entrant is Sayler’s Creek, and he will be partnered by Rico Walcott.

Although his form has not been as good as stablemate Gentleman’s Kitten, he cannot be totally dismissed.

Of the local horses, Just A FashionMarcus Antonius and Aristodemus appear to be the main dangers to the two overseas horses.

 Aristodemus actually won this race in 2013, and with top English jockey Tom Queally aboard, he has more than an outside chance of registering his second Gold Cup win.

Aristodemus could be among those with a chance at Gold Cup glory today.

However, what he has going against him is that his form has not been that good recently, so it is possible he might be found wanting in the latter stage of the race.

The same cannot be said about Just A Fashion though. This Richard Deane-trained four-year-old recorded a hat-trick of wins in his last three starts, and with inform jockey Jalon Samuel in the irons, he should go very close.

Marcus Antonius, a stablemate of Aristodemus, could turn out to be the best of the Barbadian entrants. He will be partnered by top Garrison jockey Anderson Trotman and this horse and jockey combination could be a danger to all.

  Another horse to watch is Daunting David, who will be ridden by English jockey W. Twiston Davies.

This Sir David Seale-owned four-year-old has shown improved form recently, and with a win in his last start and reportedly good exercise form, he could be a big danger to the United States-based pair of Gentleman’s Kitten and Sayler’s Creek.

 The Victor Cheeseman-trained Sirius Black looks the best of the others. He runs consistently well and placed second in his last three starts.

He will be ridden by Rickey Walcott, who won his first and only Gold Cup race to date aboard Whiskey For Me in 2007.

For those punters who like to go for a horse that has an outside chance of placing at very good odds, the one to go for is Giovedi, who will be ridden by Reshawn Latchman. This Jonathan Simpson-trained seven-year-old has not been in good form recently, but he has the potential and looks the best of the outsiders. An each-way bet on him could prove profitable.

Source: (TE)

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Horse Racing Barbados | Gold Cup glory for Walcott aboard Sayler’s Creek

Gold Cup glory for Walcott aboard Sayler’s Creek

Added by Wade Gibbons on March 7, 2015.
Saved under Horse Racing, Sports

American trainer Mike Maker landed his second successive prestigious Sandy Lane Gold Cup victory with Sayler’s Creek at the Garrison Savannah today.

Before a colourful crowd of thousands that packed the savannah, Sayler’s Creek with Rico Walcott astride, landed the 1 800 metres event in impressive fashion, while stablemate and odds-on favourite Gentleman’s Kitten with Patrick Husbands in the saddle finished a disappointing fourth.

Maker had won his first Gold Cup in 2014 with the Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey-owned Major Marvel ridden by Husbands. Marvel died last year.

With the going under-foot quite good, Sayler’s Creekpicked up the running by the four-furlong pole from early leader Sirius Black with Ricky Walcott in the saddle, and went on to victory in superb style.

Winning jockey Rico Walcott

Winning Jockey Rico Walcott and winning owner Kenneth Ramsey hoist the Sandy Lane Gold Cup, while other members of the presentation party, including Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, look on.

Sir David Seale’s Daunting David, ridden by English jockey William Twifton-Davies, finished second, while the creole Knight Rider with Antonio Bishop in the irons, finished third.

Afterwards the elated winning jockey who had streaked past his brother in his rush to the finish, was lost for words at his stunning victory. Walcott, who hails from the Brittons Hill, St. Michael area, had shown tremendous composure and tactical awareness from the start and as the race progressed.

A beaming Ramsey said afterwards he hoped to be back next year.

Sayler’s Creek paid $8.90 to win and $2.70 to place with a forecast of $166.35. The trifecta paid $1 183.10 and the superfecta, $5 940.40.

In addition to the beautiful Gold Cup trophy, Sayler’s Creekwon $120 000 for his connections, along with a further $14 850 in subscriptions.

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Horse Racing Barbados| Sayler’s Creek victory

Walcott’s method cops Gold Cup glory

Added by Barbados Today on March 9, 2015.
Saved under Horse Racing, Sports

The majority of Gold Cup winners –– whether it be Cockspur or Sandy Lane –– over the years have done so coming from off the pace, but last Saturday’s winner Sayler’s Creek brought a new dimension to winning the region’s most prestigious race.

Ridden by Barbadian jockey Rico Walcott who rides primarily at Woodlands Racetrack in Toronto, Canada, Sayler’s Creek went into the lead from the off and it was clear that Walcott’s intention was “if you want to beat me you have to catch me”.

However, in the early stages of the 1,800 metres event, Sayler’sCreek was not alone, as he had the Rickey Walcott-partnered Sirius Black for company when they came down the homestretch for the first time.

The pair were followed by Just A Fashion, Daunting David, the odds-on favourite Gentleman’s Kitten, and Indiano Jones.

By going to the front immediately after starter Mark Batson sent them on their way, race fans might have felt that Rico was setting the pace with Sayler’s Creek for stablemate and the Patrick Husbands-ridden Gentleman’s Kitten, who was the clear favourite to win the race.

Sayler’s Creek on the inside storming to victory.

It was clear that Sayler’s Creek took to the track quickly and was having no problems with its circular nature, but the same cannot be said for stablemate Gentleman’s Kitten who was seen having a problem adjusting to its short and sharp turns.

As a matter of fact, Gentleman’s Kitten only got down to serious business in the straight homestretch, and although he was closing fast the finish pole came too soon for him.

Sayler’s Creek and Sirius Black took the turn by the paddock bend almost together, but shortly after they straightened up Rico sent  into the lead and as the saying goes “it was all over bar the shouting”.

The five-year-old went on to win a shade cleverly with jockey Rico Walcott “saluting” the packed Grand Stand posse as the pair passed the winning post.

The Sir David Seale owned, Liz Deane-trained, William Twiston-Davies-ridden Daunting David, stayed on well to finish second, while Knight Rider –– one of two creoles in the race –– trained by Edward Walcott Jr. and with Antonio Bishop aboard, did well to finish third.

Another disappointment in the race was Just A Fashion, ridden by Jalon Samuel and trained by Richard Deane. Owned by the Aysha Syndicate, this four-year-old, who had won his last three starts and was installed second favourite at odds of 7/2, finished sixth, while the 2013 Gold Cup winner Aristodemus placed seventh.

Source: (TE)

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