NIGHT PROWLER, an 8-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway, crept up on the faltering speed in the 39th Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup on Saturday, March 7, to win the Caribbean classic, giving jockey Jalon Samuel a record 5th win in the big race.
The Gold Cup, worth $214,000 (US) was run for the 39th time at the Garrison Savannah and, as always, in front of a huge crowd who watched Samuel pound his chest as he guided Night Prowler across the finish line and then around the track for a celebratory gallop.
The race was run almost one hour late, leaving the final race on the big card to be run under darkening skies.
It was the 8th win in the Gold Cup for one of Barbados’ leading owners, Sir David Seale. Liz Deane is the trainer.
Third in the Gold Cup last year when favoured to win, Night Prowler (8 to 5 favourite) had a much better trip in the 12 1/8 mile turf race this year as he was relaxed off a wild pace battle between longshot Burndines and early race favourite RENAISANCE FROLIC. The hot pace took its toll on the leaders and in early stretch, Bodie Tap surged to the lead under Rickey Walcott. But Samuel had guided Night Prowler to the outside and charged past that leader to win by 2 lengths in 1:52.
Canadian-bred RISING STAR (Ghostzapper), claimed from a Woodbine race in November by trainer Sylvester Olivierre, picked up third place for owner Nicholas Gibbs. Last year’s Gold Cup winner Celestial Storm finished 5th while Renaisance Frolic faded to 6th.
Samuel surpassed the 4 Gold Cup wins by Patrick Husbands, one of Woodbine’s leading riders, to set the record for wins in the popular race.
NIGHT PROWLER was claimed in 2018 for $62,500 from breeder Paul Pompa Jr. to race in Barbados. The gelding is a 2-time graded stakes winner, winning the Dania Beach and Transylvania Stakes as a 3-year-old. He has been in Barbados since his 3rd in the Gold Cup last year. His earnings stand at well over $550,000.
His dam Mary’s Follies, by More Than Ready, is also the dam of 2019 graded stakes winning filly REGAL GLORY and the unbeaten 3-year-old of 2020, Cafe Pharoah.
Watch the race below:
From Barbados Today – https://barbadostoday.bb/2020/03/07/another-gold-cup-win-for-jalon-samuel/
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