Making his third start in Barbados and second in the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup, PUBLIC SECTOR (GB) (Kingman (GB)) furnished a furious rally from last place under jockey Jalon Samuel in time to win the 43rd edition of the Caribbean’s most prestigious race on March 7.
Held at the famed Garrison Savannah racecourse near Bridgetown, the Gold Cup, at 1 1/8 miles on turf, drew a field of 10 including three trained by leading Florida trainer SAFFIE JOSEPH, JR. plus one owned in part by his wife Morgan. One of the Joseph trainees, DIVIN PROPOS (FR), came into the race off fringe placings in graded stakes race at Gulfstream and attracted much attention as the mount of top British rider Tom Marquand, a last-minute replacement for Oisin Murphy.
It was Public Sector, trained in Barbados on Rommel ‘Perkins’ Lovell, who attracted the love of the bettors, however, based on a handy win in his return to the Garrison on Boxing Day and his close, fourth-place finish in last year’s Gold Cup behind the Joseph-trained Harrow.
Once the gates opened for the Gold Cup, well past its scheduled post time of 4:45 p.m. (eastern), there was quite a bit of bumping between the starters with Divin Propos being checked out to the back of the field. Ken Ramsey’s ABRUMAR also had early trouble, checking hard around the first bend.
The pacesetters were Florida invader BULLDOZE and recent New Orleans claim DECCAN PRINCE (IRE) who locked up past the finish line for the first time. Divin Propos and Marquand had moved up the inside to stalk the pace with Sir London, another Gulfstream runner, perched on their outside. Through splits of 24 4/5 , 49 1/5 and 1:15 according to the track announcer, the leading pair took the field into the final bend and stretch run while Public Sector was still in last place.
Bulldoze was battling for a short lead when Abrumar moved up the inside and Smokin T came outside to challenge. Bulldoze drifted in late and Smokin T looked as if he was up to win before Public Sector lunged late. Under heavy whipping by Samuel, Public Sector had won by half a head over Smokin T with Bulldoze third. The final time was 1:51 3/5.
Public Sector, an eight-year-old horse, won a trio of graded stakes races at Saratoga in 2021 for Klaravich Stable and trainer Chad Brown. He joined Saffie Joseph in 2023 when Michael Iavarone bought the horse from the Keeneland November Sale for $35,000. The horse took his first win for Joseph at Woodbine in 2024, an allowance/optional claiming race on the the grass. Following Public Sector’s run in last year’s Gold Cup, he raced twice at Woodbine for Joseph and Peter Odle’s Melrose Racing before heading back to Barbados. In Barbados, the horse is trained by Lovell, although the track announcer talked for nearly 10 minutes after the race about Joseph’s career.
This was the 7th career win for Public Sector, who now boasts earnings of over $917,000.
Jockey Samuel was winning his 7th Gold Cup. The breeder of Public Sector, who is out of a Montjeu (Ire) mare, is The Kathryn Stud.
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