SATURDAY MORNING! THE GOLD CUP IS TODAY, check the Barbados Turf Club website (barbadosturfclub.org) for links to how to hear the races live – please note – race is at 4 Toronto time, not 6…
IT’S GOLD CUP DAY!!
It’s already a sizzler here in Barbados and sure to get even more hot, esepcially with a wide open sandy Lane Gold Cup on tap for 5 o clock this afternoon – Toronto this, that’s 4 p.m. EST – sorry, I got confused yesterday when i was trying to do the time change…
HORSES INFORMATION
SHOW ME THE MONEY – 5-year-old chestnut horse, bred in Barbados, and racing for Barbados.
DRAW. Gate 1.
OWNER: Lord Michael Taylor.
FORM: 25 starts, won 6 and placed in 12.
EARNED: $147 551.
TRAINER: Anderson Ward.
JOCKEY: Jalon Samuel.
WEIGHT: 122 pounds.
Show Me The Money can run from in front, or from off the pace and will get 1800 metres. He won his last race on July 17, 2010 over 2000 metres, on soft ground, buts acts on any ground. He lost a little form recently, but once he is back to himself he could finish in the money.
ROCAMADOUR – 5-year-old bay horse, bred in the USA, and racing for Barbados.
DRAW. Gate 2.
Owner. Melrose Racing Stable & Clifton Racing.
FORM. 11 starts, won 2 and placed in 5.
EARNED $41 670.
TRAINER. Jonathan Simpson.
JOCKEY. Jono Jones.
WEIGHT. 129 pounds.
Rocamadour, can run from close to the pace or from off the pace, and will get 1800 metres, having won at the distances. He can also run on any type of going. He has only had one race since July 2010, and that was on December 27, 2010. He is capable of finishing in the money.
ZOOM – 6-year-old bay/brown gelding, bred in Barbados and running for Barbados.
DRAW. Gate 3.
OWNER. Mrs. Gay Smith.
FORM. 29 starts, won 5, and placed in 13.
EARNED. $157 944.
TRAINER. Edward Walcott Jnr.
JOCKEY. To be declared
WEIGHT. 122 pounds.
Zoom, will get the 1800 metres, and won his last start on January 21, going 2000 metres on the soft. Seems to prefer a cut in the ground, and comes from off the pace. He has improved, but will have to come up with a big run to trouble the top three.
BAD ACTION – 5-year-old bay gelding, bred in the USA, and running for St. Kitts.
DRAWN. Gate 4.
OWNER. Mrs. Daislyn Sharpe.
FORM. He won 8 races in the USA, and placed in 11, Placed 3rd in Sandy Lane Gold Cup and won mutable race in St. Kitts.
EARNED. In the USA he earned US $339 325
TRAINER. L. Warren.
JOCKEY. Jamie Spencer
WEIGHT. 129 pounds.
BAD ACTION, raced in the USA, winning 8 races there, and came to Barbados for the 2010 Gold Cup, and finished fifth, and was only 1 1/4 lengths behind Apostle. He has since won multiple races in St. Kitts. While he seems more comfortable at a mile, the 1800 metres at the Garrison should not trouble him. He looks a harder and more matured horse this year as a 5-year-old. He also has the asset of having a top international jockey in Jamie Spencer. On form he could be a danger to all.
BIRD WATCH is in Gate 5, but he is a reserve.
AL PORTADOR drawn Gate 7 is scratched.
REWARD ME – 4-year-old colt, bred in the USA, and running for Barbados.
DRAWN. gate 8.
OWNER. Sir David Seale
FORM. 12 starts, won 1, and placed in 8.
EARNED. $42 077.
TRAINER. Stephen Bynoe.
JOCKEY. Ricky Walcott.
WEIGHT. 125 pounds.
REWARD ME, has won at 1800 metres, and ran his best races on good to soft and soft going, but does not look like this is the only type of ground he needs. He is improving as a 4-year-old, and ran a corker last time out when second to Boucebak, having John Brian, Charge It, and Mingun Temple behind him. He should be capable of finishing in the money.
JOHN BRIAN – 7-year-old bay horse, bred in the USA and running for Barbados.
Draw. Gate 6.
OWNER. Sir David Seale.
FORM. 31 starts, won 5 and placed in 18.
EARNED. $233 622.
TRAINER. Elizabeth Deane SCM.
JOCKEY. To be declared.
WEIGHT. 129 pounds.
John Brian, Has placed in past Gold Cup races, but seems
to find 1800 metres just outside of his comfort zone. He runs
from off the pace. He acts on any going, has not won a race
during 2010, and should find it difficult to win here. He acts on any ground.
CHARGE IT – 5-year-old chestnut horse, bred in the USA and running for Barbados.
DRAW. Gate 9.
OWNER. Aysha Syndicate.
FORM. 13 starts, won 3, and placed in 6.
EARNED. $35 280.
TRAINER. Naz Issa.
JOCKEY. To be declared.
WEIGHT. 129 pounds.
Charge It, will get the distance. He runs from just off the pace, and should act on any type of ground. He would have to come up with a big run to trouble the first four.
GRAND CASH – 5-year-old chestnut gelding, bred in the USA and running for the USA.
DRAWN. Gate 10.
OWNER. Silver Oak Stable LLC & M & G Stable LLC.
FORM. 29 starts, won 8 and placed in 5.
EARNED. US$217 041
TRAINER. Wesley Ward
JOCKEY. J. Sanchez
WEIGHT. 129 pounds.
GRAND CASH, won as recently as November 27, 2010 at Calder over 7 1/2 furlongs, and also won a claiming race at Gulfstream on January 6, 2011.
JUST CALL ME ROGER – 4-year-old Dk bay/bay gelding, bred in the USA, and running for Trinidad & Tobago.
DRAWN. Gate 11.
OWNER. 2 Amigos.
FORM. 14 starts, won 4, and placed in 4 while in Canada, USA.
EARNED. US$137 824 also won in Trinidad.
TRAINER. Andrew Nunes.
JOCKEY. Nobel Abrego
Just Call Me Roger, has been in Barbados for a couple weeks, and is reportedly working very good. He should get 1800 metres at the Garrison.
SAFETY ZONE – 7-year-old bay gelding bred in the USA, and running for Canada.
DRAW. gate 12.
OWNER. Eugene Melnyk.
FORM. 28 starts, won 9.
EARNED.US$419 049.
TRAINER. Mark Casse.
JOCKEY. Patrick Husbands
WEIGHT.129 pounds.
Safety Zone, is the class horse in the race, winning seven of his last nine races, of which six was at Woodbine, Canada, and then on January 8, he won at Tampa Bay. On October 31, 2010 he won the Can$100 000 Labeel Stakes, at Woodbine, and he should be the one to beat, especially with Patrick Husbands in the saddle.
Mingun Temple – 4-year-old bay colt, bred in the USA, and running for Barbados.
Draw. Gate 13.
Owner. Mrs. Amanda Marshall-Way and Helen Spencer.
Form. 14 starts, won 4, and placed in 7.
Earned $116 862.
Trainer. Andrew Nunes.
Jockey. Paul Leacock.
Weight. 125 pounds.
Mingun Temple, will find the 1800 metres to his liking. He runs best when just off the pace, but not too far off the leaders. He seems to be at his best on good to soft or soft ground, as he has won two of his four races on soft ground, and two on good to soft. Once he performs to his maximum he will be a strong contender.
APOSTLE – 7-year-old chestnut gelding, bred in Barbados, and racing for Barbados.
DRAW. Gate 14.
OWNER. Elias Haloute & Sir Charles Williams.
FORM. 29 starts, won 12, and placed in 10.
EARNED. $419 083.
Trainer. Andrew Nunes.
Jockey. Anderson Trotman.
Weight 122 pounds.
APOSTLE, likes to dictate the pace of the race, and is a strong front runner that gets 1800 metres. Only two grade one horses beat him last year in the Gold Cup. He likes to hear his feet rattle, so he would need good to firm going to be at his best, and should he get that type of going on Saturday, it could take a good one to
beat him.
MORE NEWS..
By Alan Harris | 2/27/2011| Barbados Advocate
Will 2011 be the year that ace jockey Darryll Holland pilots a winner in the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup?
The 38-year-old Manchester-born Englishman is back for his third crack at the Caribbean’s most prestigious horse race, which runs off on March 5th at the Garrison Savannah.
However, this time the stakes are different for Holland, because this year he has not just one, but two outstanding horses to choose from. A luxury some would say, but it now poses a dilemma to the champion jockey – to play it conservative or go for broke.
His two choices this year are seven-year-old bay gelding John Brian – like Holland, back for his third try at the Gold Cup – and the sometimes underrated Reward Me, a four-year-old bay gelding.
Both are owned by five-time Gold Cup winner, Sir David Seale, and trained by champion trainer Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Deane, the first female trainer to saddle a Gold Cup winner (2007 – Whiskey for Me).
“I actually have two choices in John Brian or Reward Me,” Holland disclosed during an exclusive interview with the Barbados Advocate.
“To be honest I want to leave my decision for as late as possible. Entries and Final Declarations are on Thursday so I have until Wednesday evening to decide. There’s a week until the race and a week is a long time in a racehorse’s life. Anything can happen.”
Last year Holland was in control of the highly-regarded Areutalkintome, a star creole colt owned by Saffie Joseph Jr. After a disappointing mid-pack finish, Holland said he was eager to better his best-ever third place finish, which he recorded in 2009 aboard the Sir David Seale-owned Preach To Me.
“I’m keen to get a Gold Cup win,” he candidly said.
“Last year was a bit of a hit and miss. Things didn’t really pan out the way I had hoped and I couldn’t ride my race accordingly. I thought I was in with a real good shot[…with Areutalkintome]. He was probably the best ride I’ve ever had going in to the Gold Cup, but that’s horse racing as they say.”
Holland said he was pleased to be back riding for Sir David Seale. He also said he was impressed by the professional training setup which was run by Liz Deane.
“The setup is very professional. Richard (Seale) and Liz (Deane) pay close attention to every detail”, he said. “I quite like that. Obviously Liz’s record speaks for itself. She has been a champion trainer several times over. Its no fluke and I can see why.”
Holland is making a comeback to the sport after he detached his right collar bone during a race at Beverley, Yorkshire in May 2010. According to him, “its of no bother at all”.
“I had eight weeks off and I missed a whole bunch of racing. This is probably my first big race back. I’ve had plenty of races since then in the UK and its held up well so I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.”
Turning his attention to the track itself, Holland said if it’s ‘hard’, John Brian will be favored; if it’s ‘soft’, Reward Me will be his pick.
“The track was looking a bit tired but it should be alright come race day,” he said. “If it’s hard, John Brian will be the horse for the race. Softer ground will suit Reward Me.”
Though Holland was of the opinion that this year’s field was not as strong as last year’s, he did think that local favorites Apostle and Show Me the Money were strong contenders.
“I think Show Me the Money and Apostle are the front runners. These horses know their way around the Savannah and they are tough animals. To be honest, besides one hiccup from Apostle, they always perform on the day. You always have to be weary of those horses.
“I’m not riding a front runner so I won’t be duelling for any lead anyway. I’ll let them carry on and hopefully they’ll have a fight for the lead with someone else. That way, the race will be set up perfect for me. I just really want to win this race and whoever I chose, I just hope he gives me a good ride.”
John Brian, who placed second to Pure Temptation in the 2008 Gold Cup, will be starting in Gate 6.
Reward Me is currently reserve No. 1.
Holland will be using the 2011 Sandy Lane Gold Cup as a precursor for the 2011 English racing season which begins at Doncaster on March 28th.
Holland on ‘John Brian’, 7yr bay gelding: “I’ve sat on him twice – Thursday morning for a canter and yesterday (Saturday). He is a big, strong horse and he was actually a bit keen yesterday. He is a horse that will probably be well placed. He’s not going to be too far forward or too far back. He’s a horse that travels up the field as the race wears on. He has good cruising speed and a slowly run race will not suit him..but normally, he likes to go forward.”
Holland on ‘Reward Me’, 4yr bay gelding: “He’s a big, imposing horse and he likes to get his toes in the ground. He’s such a heavy horse and on firm ground, he’d probably be like a cat on hot bricks. A surprise to most, he may just turn out to be the dark horse of this whole thing.”
Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup a very open race
3/5/2011
THE question that everyone is asking, is who will win the xxx Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup today at the Garrison Savannah?
Most race fans feel that will only be answered after the race has been run, as it is a very open race where most of the horses have a chance of winning.
The race, which is the feature of the day carrying a total stake of over $225 000 is due to be run at 5.00 p.m.
Based on the form of Safety Zone, who is running for Canada, and recently in the USA, and the fact that he has Patrick Husbands in the saddle, the impression given is that he should be the one to beat.
Creole Apostle, can’t be ignored as he is a very strong front runner. Last year it took two grade one horses to beat him, and they are both absent this year. Bad Action finished a good fifth last year, and he is back to have another go at it, this time he is running for St. Kitts. He looks like a better horse as a 5-year-old, and with Jamie Spencer in the saddle, he is capable of giving a good account of himself. Mingun Temple could find a place.
There are two supporting features, with the first being race five, the Tanglewood Stakes & Trophy. This race carries a total purse of $97 600 and is due to be run at 2.00pm.
http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=sports&NewsID=16189
A night at Bert’s Bar is a must when visiting Barbados. it’s just down the road from our hotel, in Rockley and it’s a large, spacious, open sports bar, wood floors and then outside around some small pools.
There is an awesome collection of sports memorabilia – from hockeys sticks of Bob probert and Eric Lindros that are made into lounge chairs (this greets you when you walk in) and they sit in front of the large HOCKEY NIGHT IN BARBADOS sign.
Three sets of families had their picture taken in front of this during our visit. There are jersies and skates and racing pics and so much cool stuff.
Oh, an a photo of Eugene Melnyk, who owns the bar with Bert, with none other than Justibe Beiber. Beiber’s hat is also framed in a box and on the wall.
The gold Cup is the reason for the excitement in Barbados this week – its 30th year and 15th sponsored by the Sandy lane Hotel.
The race will have 12 runners and interest for Canadians and Americans comes in the form of Melnyk’s horse, Safety Zone, Wesley Ward trainee Grand Cash and jockeys Patrick Husbands, Jono Jones and Jeffrey Sanchez.
Melnyk’s other horse on the 10-race card, Emerald Crescent, drew into the Spa Sprint today as there were several scratches and this quick son of El Prado seems to have a decent change at a win in that dash.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/61725/melnyk-seeks-third-shady-lane-win-in-barbados
GOLD CUP NEWS
BARBADOS ADVOCATE:
John Brian’s connections looking to do well in Gold Cup
3/4/2011
By Petra Harvey
This will be John Brian’s third attempt at winning the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup and his connections are confident the seven-year-old horse will do well this year.
The Barbados Advocate caught up with trainer Liz Deane SCM recently at the Garrison Savannah and she noted that John Brian is fit and ready for the race on Saturday.
“After last year’s Gold Cup where he ran a creditable fourth, he had a bad fall coming out of the swimming pool, and he was out for quite a few months because he had actually broken some ribs. He came back out, and ran third in the Victor Chandler Stakes on Boxing Day.
“He always seems to show up Gold Cup Day, he is seven years old, getting older, but he is a very honest and genuine horse. So we are just hoping he gives a good account of himself,” said Deane.
She admitted that John Brian was her favourite horse, describing him as a real gentleman.
http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=sports&NewsID=16163
NATION NEWS STORY:
By Lindon Yarde | Fri, March 04, 2011 – 12:05 AM
When the Sandy Lane Gold Cup runs off tomorrow, there will be no outstanding favourite, which should make it an extremely competitive race.
Die-hard race fans will more than likely turn to the jockeys to make their final decisions as to which horse they will choose to win the prestigious event.
When one looks at the past performances of all entered for this glamorous event it makes for interesting reading.
Silver Oaks LLC-owned Grand Cash has the most impressive record. The American gelding has won eight of his career 28 starts. The Wesley Ward-trained gelding who runs on the pace, was involved in a dead-heat in his last start at Gulfstream Park in the United States on January 6 in a Claiming US$44 000 event over 1 1/16 miles on the turf.
On that occasion, he stopped the clock at 1:41.3. It was an impressive victory as he slugged it out at the top of the lane.
http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/no-clear-pick/
WHO DOESN’T LOVE CANADA BREDS??
from Thoroughbred Times:
West Point springs for $700,000 Macho Uno colt
Posted: Thursday, March 03, 2011 3:10 PM
by Jeff Lowe
West Point Thoroughbreds enjoyed the exploits of Macho Uno’s top runner, Macho Again, and dug deep out of the same well on Thursday in securing another Macho Uno colt from consignor Crupi’s New Castle Farm at the Fasig-Tipton Florida select sale of two-year-olds in training on Thurdsay.
The $700,000 price was the highest West Point has paid for a two-year-old at public auction. Buzz Chace, agent, signed the ticket. West Point bought Macho Again for $150,000 as a two-year-old from J.J. Crupi’s consignment, and he went on to earn $1,825,767 while winning the 2009 Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) and finishing second in the 2008 Preakness Stakes (G1).
Crupi spent $50,000 to buy the younger colt at the 2010 Keeneland September yearling sale from breeder Adena Springs. The Canadian-bred colt covered one furlong in :10 in the training preview.
“That was a big hit,” Chace said. “He was a real nice horse and he had a tremendous work. He was lovely all week at the barn. It’s an added benefit that he’s a Canadian-bred and he’s got a lot going for him. We think he has a big chance.”
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/sales-news/2011/03/03/west-point-springs-for-700000-macho-uno.aspx
