Nalicia Cozier’s SO SUAVE (Ire), a 6-year-old bay horse claimed from his most recent race at Woodbine in November, galloped to a handy 2 1/2 length win in the Group 1 Coolmore “Home of Champions” Stakes at the Garrsion Savannah racecourse in Bridgetown, Barbados on Jan. 28. The Coolmore is the local prep race for the March 4 Sandy Lane Gold Cup, which is expected to attract several more North American invaders.

So Suave was ridden by champion Canadian jockey Patrick Husbands, who hails from Barbados. It was Husbands’ first ride at the Garrison since 2018.

Installed as the heavy 6-to-5 favourite by a big crowd at the Garrison, So Suave, trained by Jean-Marc Cozier, stayed a couple of lengths behind early leader Joqular, the top-rated horse in Barbados, through a reserved early pace.

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