American racing magnate Kenneth Ramsey and his wife Sarah conquered all and sundry to land the 33rd edition of the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup over 1 800 metres yesterday at the Garrison Savannah.
In brilliant sunshine on a firm track and before a massive crowd, Major Marvel swept home with consummate ease to take the first prize purse of $120 000 and the glittering Gold Cup under the urgings of seven-time Sovereign Award-winning jockey Patrick “Bomel” Husbands. It was the Ramseys first time in the event.
It was a memorable day, too, for Husbands, as he joined Venice Richards and Jonathon Jones with four wins in the Caribbean’s most prestigious horse race. The 40-year-old also became the first rider to sweep all three feature races on a Gold Cup Day card.
No sooner had the starter sent the field racing, Areutalkintome quickly opened up a five-length lead on the field. Major Marvel stalked his prey in second position while Shared Adventure, Dashing David and Nominee took up nice positions.
Areutalkintome sped through fractions of 23.1 for the quarter; the half mile in a respectable 48.1 and the six furlongs in a healthy 1:13.2. However, at that stage Major Marvel and Husbands pounced upon the leader while still on the bridle.
As jockey Rico Walcott asked Areutalkintome for everything, Major Marvel moved through the mile in 1:39 flat, opening up a two-and-a-half length advantage on the field.
With Areutalkintome a beaten horse, Dashing David and Shared Adventure were left in hot pursuit of the leader. Turning for home, Major Marvel continued to gallop his rivals further into the ground before sailing past the line.
Trinidad and Tobago representative Nominee, owned by Anthony Navarro, rallied in the home stretch under Nobel Abrego to take second position, much to the delight of trainer Kenneth De Silva.
Dashing David, running in the colours of Sir David Seale, ran a game race to finish third under the urging of jockey Reshawn Latchman. He was well settled throughout the race but when the winner moved off, simply did not have a quick enough response.
Shared Adventure, owned by H&M, must have dispelled all doubts about his ability to go the trip as he was the only Barbadian-based horse to hit the board, finishing fourth with Kenny John in the irons.
Husbands also clinched the Bubba’s Sunday buffet breakfast Ride of the Day prize for his win aboard the Blue Diamond Racing-owned Vitality in the Sandy Lane Spa Sprint.
