Barbadian legend and multiple Canadian champion jockey PATRICK HUSBANDS has been named to ride former Woodbine runner SO SUAVE (IRE) in the January 28 Coolmore “Home of Champions” Stakes (G1) at Garrison Savannah racecourse in Bridgetown, Barbados. Husbands, who winters in his native Barbados, has not ridden a race at his home track since 2018.
The $50,000 Coolmore, at 1,800 metres (just over 1 1/16 miles) is the local prep for the March 4 Sandy Lane Gold Cup, the biggest race in the Caribbean, which has not been run since 2020.
This year’s Gold Cup has attracted plenty of buzz already with numerous invaders heading to Barbados from North America. So Suave, owned by Nalicia Cozier and trained by her husband Jean Marc Cozier, was claimed from his last race, a win at Woodbine on Nov. 6 on the Tapeta. He was claimed from $25,000 by Louis C Cavalaris and trainer Ted Holder and now is in the stable of the Coziers. So Suave won three of his last four races at Woodbine for trainer Martin Drexler and one of those came on the grass. The 6-year-old by Make Believe (GB) has won 6 of 16 races and is a horse who likes to race close to the pace.
The Coolmore is race 6 at the Garrison Savannah on Saturday with a post time of 3:55 Eastern. There is a field of 6 entered.
So Suave will have to get past the powerful duo of two mares trained by Charles Williams, JOQULAR (Hard Spun) and VIVIDLY (GB) (Charm Spirit) (Ire). Joqular is the top rated horse in Barbados currently and the 5-year-old, bred in Kentucky by Marc Keller, comes off her first Group 1 win in the Robert Bourque Stakes. Vividly, bred by Juddmonte Farms, won her only start in Barbados. Darwin Clarke owns Joqular and is a co-owner of Vividly with Beth Koch and Jalisa Callender.
BODIE TAP, second in the 2020 Gold Cup and a son of Bodemeister, is also in the field with Cadejah Arthur riding. BRILLIANT NEWS (Ire), by Camacho, is the representative for Sir David Seale, and INSPIRED ADVENTURE (Tapizar) is owned by H & M Barbados and is out of a daughter of Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors.
The Coolmore winner will meet up with several intriguing invaders scheduled to take part in the Gold Cup. MO HAWK (Uncle Mo), was acquired by trainer Robert Peirce following his second straight win at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 22. The 6-year-old horse was claimed for $35,000 and he has won 5 of 24 races and earned over $168,000. Mo Hawk was originally a $925,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase.
Also under consideration for the Gold Cup is IT’S A GAMBLE, claimed by Saffie Joseph, Jr. for $35,000 from a troubled fourth-place finish at Gulfstream on turf. The 5-year-old English Channel horse has not won since 2021 when he took the Jersey Derby at Monmouth Park.
RAMSEY SOLUTION, owned and bred by Ken Ramsey and the estate of Sarah Ramsey, is prepping for the Gold Cup at Gulfstream on Jan. 28 in a handicap at 1 mile and 70 yards on Tapeta. The Ramseys won the Gold Cup in 2014 and 2015.
You can watch the Coolmore Stakes and the card of racing at the Garrison at the Barbados Turf Club website here.
Here is an interview with Jean-Marc Cozier from JOURNEYS, The Talk Show‘s Sean Hall about SO SUAVE:
Kent Layne has more on the Coolmore Stake from Barbados Today here.
Race 6 [3:55PM EASTERN] – 1800M (Turf) – Purse: $50,000 – Saturday, January 28, 2023
THE COOLMORE “HOME OF CHAMPIONS” STAKES AND TROPHY (GR.1. – BAR)
3-YEAR-OLDS & OLDER (WEIGHT FOR AGE)
PP Horse Rating- Days Since Last Race -A/S Jockey Wgt Trainer Earnings
1. BODIE TAP (USA) – 122 245 8/G B CArthur 129 RLovell $116,460
2. JOQULAR (USA) – 125 33 5/M THazelwood 124 CWilliams $81,440
3. VIVIDLY (GB) – 90 49 6/M NPrescod 124 CWilliams $10,175
4. SO SUAVE (IRE) – 100 6/H TND PHusbands BSS 129 J-MCozier $0
5. INSPIRED ADVENTURE (USA) – 97 33 8/H B KCarter 129 JOHN K $163,205
6. BRILLIANT NEWS (IRE) – 100 33 4/C T RWilliams 125 ANunes $27,965
Owners 1-Goodridge Kc,Mr. Mark; 2-Clarke,Mr. Darwin; 3-Miss Jalisa Callender, Mr. Darwin Clarke & Mrs. Beth Koch; 4-Cozier, Mrs. Nalicia; 5-H & M; 6-Sir David Seale
Breeders 1-Robert E. Low & Lawana L. Low; 2-Marc Keller; 3-Juddmonte Farms Inc.; 4-Belmont Bs, Glenville Bs, C Mcavoy & Mb Synd; 5-Gainesway Thoroughbred Ltd.; 6-Rossenarra Bloodstock Ltd.
Pedigree 1-Bodemeister out of Puddy Tap by Tapit; 2-Hard Spun out of Unfunny by Distorted Humor; 3-Charm Spirit out of Zero Gravity by Dansili; 4-Make Believe out of Stylish One by Invincible Spirit; 5-Tapizar out of Ocean Colors by Orientate; 6-Camacho out of Belle Of The Blues by Blues Traveller
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