Every once in a while, long shots appear from out of the blue causing major upsets in horse racing. Saturday’s 75th running of the Barbados Derby offers several long shot contenders.
In the 30-year history of Massy United Insurance Company’s sponsorship at least four upsets have occurred. The biggest of them all came in 1991 when Herbert Gonsalves’ Overdraft partnered by Jonathon Jones rolled home having only won a solitary maiden event.
Eleven years elapsed where either the favourite, second or third choice obliged the public at the betting windows. Some will argue that it takes luck or audacity to pick these long shots but up came Mirabel owned by Little Bentley Stables with Jamar Maughn aboard to win the 2003 edition.
That was followed by Margo Atkinson’s Sackett (Paul Leacock) in 2005 and who could forget 2012 when Bandera Belle (Renaldo Cumberbatch) ploughed home on the soft conditions for Lady Williams and Michael Panter.
While one could say the above-mentioned four went into those classics injury free, the storyline in this year’s Grade I x 2 000 metres Massy United Insurance Barbados Derby is different as three of the four live long shots are coming off injuries but all are well represented in the pedigree division.
Ninepoint Six-Nine’s lone success came over 1 570 metres in a small field of six; immediately following that win it was discovered that this son of Carpe Diem who sired the 2006 Triple Crown winner Zouk had a stress fracture.
Coming back from that injury with trainer Xavier Blanche seeking his first major success he will be hard-pressed to bring him fighting fit for this massive assignment.
Joshua, apart from being the least raced horse in the field, won his second start very impressively. This son of Janak whose lone Derby winner was Fresh Milk in 2008 broke down with a tendon injury. He returned from an eight months absence with a win over 1 000 metres against average bottom level rated sprinters.
In Joshua and the rail drawn Jasmine, owner and breeder George Devere Davis will be going after his fifth Derby. He previously won with Happy Style in 1985, Coo Bird Triple Crown Winner in ’89, Ginger Dove in ’90 and Oba Dove in 2002 to be one of the more successful owners in this race’s history.
Dance Daddy Dance has no injury worry but her career has been plagued by her mental attitude of leaving the gates when she feels like.
Also sired by Janak, she has performed moderately among her peers, in the process galvanizing two second place finishes against modest 1 800 metres horses. Her solitary 1 570 maiden success may not be enough for punters to back her down to a short price.
The final live long shot is Corvette, who was one of the leading two-year olds. His form took a sudden nosedive at the beginning of the year which was further compounded by an unfortunate injury.
His trainer Andrew Nunes record in this event of three wins – Apostle, Kendal Moon and Bandera Belle – speaks for itself. Corvette’s dam Signorina’s offspring Leave It To Me won the 2010 edition.
This race is not without a rank outsider and after shocking the public by taking the Grade II Michael Parravicino Memorial Hopeful Breeders Stakes, John Vere’s form has become seriously embroiled in turbulence.
Aquatic Star has not done anything out of the ordinary to win over the fans confidence.
Therefore she will need something unexpected to occur in order for her to send the savannah into a state of disbelief.
Kamazetta will more than likely be the longest long shot of all on the boards, however, be forewarned that this is the hurricane season and if a weather system comes off the eastern Caribbean Sea dumping several inches of water on the savannah she could come home like a speedboat on water.
