Stay tuned to Thoroughblog later tomorrow for an update once we land in Barbados. Track news Friday morning and then the race comes Saturday – check bloodhorse.com and drf. com for news
pics of the ST. KITTS HORSES packing up their…kitt n kaboodle, sorry, for the Barbados Gold Cup – thanks to Beaumont Park for great shots!
KITTS N KABOODLE
American breds, now fom St. Kitts, land in Barbados
AL PORTADOR holds the key to the complete field for the Sandy Lane Gold Cup, number 30, on Saturday at the Garrison Savannah in Bridgetown, Barbados.
The 8-year-old grey, who is an immediate desecendent of champion Canadian filly NORTHERN BLOSSOM, trained by Gil Rowntree for BKY Stable in 1983. Northern Blossom is the 2nd dam of Al Portador, a son of Ontario sire Aljabr.
Northern Blossom is by Snow Knight out of Victorian Heiress, who is by Northern Dancer.
Al Portador is in-bred 5 x 4 x 5 to the Dancer.
Now this big grey began his career in Europe but he has been in St. Kitts for a little while and is one of the top horses there.
He is entered in the Gold Cup BUT ALSO the Spa Sprint. If he runs in the Sprint, then Eugene Melnyk’s EMERALD CRESCENT will not get to run in the Sprint.
Other St. Kitts horses that headed out for a 1 1/2 hour flight on Sunday included ANANSI (Put In Back – Milady’s Halo) who is entered in the Sprint, BAD ACTION, the Pegasus Stakes winner by Brahms who was 5th in the Gold Cup last year and ATAABA’S PRIDE (Pivotal).
Horses from St. Kitts arrive for Gold Cup raceday
3/2/2011
Four horses from St. Kitts arrived to take part on Gold Cup day. Two of the four are entered in the Sandy Lane Gold Cup, Bad Action and Al Portador.
Bad Action competed last year and returns to see if he can better his position at the finish this year. He has been in great form in St. Kitts, winning from seven furlongs to a mile on a regular basis. Last year as a four-year-old he finished fifth, and now as a five-year-old he looks a more matured horse than when he was here last year. He is capable of giving a good account of himself.
Al Portador is the other horse entered in the Sandy Lane Gold Cup, but he is also entered in the Sandy Lane Spa Sprint, and we will have to wait and see where he takes his chances.
Also entered in the Sandy Lane Spa Sprint are Anansi and Atabaas Pride.
http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=sports&NewsID=16129
Below – AL PORTADOR is far right with buddies as he gets set to jet to Barbados
MORE GOLD CUP COVERAGE HERE…
http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/gold-cup-on/
ST. KITTS TRACK http://www.beaumontpark.kn/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=199:racing-continues-bds&catid=51
SIR LESTER PIGGOTT SPECIAL GUEST AT GOLD CUP
Nation News reports that champion jockey Lester Piggott, now 76, will be a guest at the Barbados Gold Cup on Saturday.
Piggott won over 4,400 and nine Epsom Derbys.
