Update: Impressive Nomination List for 41st Sandy Lane Gold Cup

UPDATED – An impressive list of 19 older horses plus three vacant spots make up the first subscription for the 41st Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup (G1) to be held on March 2 at the Garrison Savannah in Bridgeport.

This year’s list of possible entrants includes two recent purchases by three-time Gold Cup-winning owner Mrs. Gay Smith who resides in Barbados with husband Derrick Smith, one of the world’s leading owners who races horses with Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier.

Smith has acquired Group 3 winner STONE AGE (Galileo (Ire)) from Magnier, Peter Brant and Peter Westerburg. The five-year-old stallion has been an underachiever after 18 races but he was second in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Keeneland to Rebel’s Romance.

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Stone Age, winner of two races and most recently fifth in the Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream for trainer Chad Brown, finished seventh, beaten 3 1/2 lengths in the W.L. McKnight Stakes (G3) at 1 1/2 miles on Jan. 27, Pegasus day. The race went in near-course record time – 2:22.64, just 1/100th of a second off the the mark.

Smith has also purchased PORTFOLIO COMPANY (Kitten’s Joy) from Klaravich Stable. The five-year-old gelding, also trained by Chad Brown, has won four of 14 races and he was second in the Pilgrim Stakes (G2) as a two-year-old and third in the Lure Stakes at Saratoga last August. Portfolio Company and with fellow Gold Cup nominees CASH EQUITY (FR) and SKYRO, competed in a one mile and 70-yard Tapeta handicap worth $100,000 on Pegasus day. The trio finished fifth, fourth and third respectively, with Skyro and Cash Equity closing strongly to miss by less than three-quarters of a length.

Cash Equity is one of five nominees for top American owner Ken Ramsey, who has won three Gold Cups. Ramsey claimed Cash Equity (Toronado (Ire)) for $80,000 from a close second-place finish at Santa Anita on Nov. 2. The grey six-year-old has won six races, all on the grass. Ramsey has also nominated SPY NOVEL, SPIRIT MAKER, RAMSEY SOLUTION and YES THIS TIME.

SKYRO, owned by longtime Woodbine owner Raj Maharaj, has won five of 19 races on dirt, turf and synthetic. The six-year-old is a son of Ontario-bred mare Tiz Ro.

Last’s year Gold Cup winner IT’S A GAMBLE has been idle since his big win, but is on the nomination list.

Two horses recently arrived in Barbados from Woodbine: PAT’SSEWINGMACHINE and FORESTER HUMOR. Both horses are trained by Ted Holder and are entered in the Feb. 3 Coolmore Stakes at the Garrison. Pat’ssewingmachine (We Miss Artie) is a one-time winner from eight starts and he was third in an optional claiming race at Woodbine on Tapeta last fall. He is owned by Fun in the Sun Racing which includes Darwin Clarke and Deryck Lynch. Forester Humor, owned by Dean Springer and Steve Samaroo, is a son of Old Forester and a three-time sprint winner.

RENAISANCE FROLIC was a winner on Dec. 26 in the Barbados Lottery Trophy at 1570 metres, defeating Vividly by an inch. So Suave was a length back in third and Zaeed was far back in fourth. Now 9, Renaisance Frolic (Paynter) ran the ‘about’ 1 mile distance in 1:38.6 and was ridden by Rey Williams. The gelding had also won his previous race, the John B. Simpson Memorial at 1570 metres on Nov. 30, defeating So Suave by half a length. Brilliant News was third. An eager front-running type, Renaisance Frolic is owned by Sir David Seale, who has won a record eight Gold Cups.

SO SUAVE (Ire), third in the Gold Cup a year ago for Mrs. Nalicia Cozier, went into last year’s race off a big win in the Coolmore and is entered again this year. Grade 2 winner TEMPLE (Temple City) has been nominated for American owners Paradise Farms and David Staudbacher and trainer Mike Maker. BIG DREAMING (Declaration of War) was claimed on Jan. 11 from a third-place finish at Fair Grounds. The five-time winner was taken for $30,000 by Chevan Maharaj.

VIVIDLY, a seven-year-old mare who has raced well in Barbados, and ZAEED complete the subscription list.

Three other slots have been reserved on the subscription list by owners Melrose Stable, Saddleweed Farm and Mark Goodridge.

Press Release from Barbados Turf Club: The following horses have been nominated at the 1st subscription stage for the XLI Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup (G1) on March 2, 2024.
The second subscription of $1,500 is due Feb. 9.

BIG DREAMING (Chevan Maharaj) T&T/USA
BODIE TAP (Mark Goodridge) BAR
BRILLIANT NEWS (Sir David Seale) GBR
CASH EQUITY (Ken Ramsey) USA
FORESTER HUMOR (Dean Springer/Steve Samaroo) CAN
IT’S A GAMBLE (Mark Goodridge) BAR
PAST’SSEWINGMACHINE (Fun in the Sun Racing) CAN
PORTFOLIO COMPANY (Mrs Gay Smith) USA
RAMSEY SOLUTION (Ken Ramsey) USA
RENAISANCE FROLIC (Sir David Seale) BAR
SO SUAVE (Nalicia Cozier) BAR
STONE AGE (Mrs Gay Smith) USA
SKYRO (Raroma Stable) (T/T)
TEMPLE (Paradise Farms Corp, David Staudacher) USA
VIVIDLY (Darwin Clarke/Beth Kouch) BAR
YES THIS TIME (Ken Ramsey) USA
ZAEED (Nalicia Cozier) BAR
Unnamed Mark Goodridge
Unnamed Melrose Racing
Unnamed Saddleweed Farms