TRAINER?Liz Deane is going after more Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup glory today.
Deane, who holds the record for the most wins in one race card by any trainer, is one of three trainers in today’s event to have tasted Gold Cup success.
She is the leading female trainer in the Caribbean and is second in the all-time trainers’ career wins table with just over 500 wins, behind William “Bill” Marshall.
Several landmarks beckon as she prepares reigning champion Aristodemus to defend his Cup. Should she be successful, Deane would become the third trainer to land a Gold Cup hat-trick, behind Arthur “Scobie” Beasley, who did it with Sandford Prince twice and Chou Chou Royale, and William “Bill” Marshall. Marshall holds the record for most wins (seven).
A hat-trick by Deane would be the second for the Hopefield Stable. The first was landed by Beasley despite Chou Chou Royale wearing the colours of Lady Seale.
Should Deane’s charge Aristodemus, as well as Dashing David fill the top two positions, this would give Hopefield Stable their second one-two finish in the event.
Ironically Deane and Robert Peirce are the only trainers to land top-two finishes in previous Gold Cups, doing so twice.
Peirce started the trend in 2006 when he sent out Gay Smith’s Sharp Impact and Zarad before returning with Lord Michael Taylor and Clifton Racing’s Daylight Express and Bouncebak.
Deane gave a swift response, winning in 2007 with Aysha Syndicate’s Whiskey For Me and Who’s Wavering. Two years ago, she produced Dancing David and John Brian for racing tycoon Sir David Seale.
A win here would also push her up to tie for second position with Beasley on four Gold Cup wins, while it would be the second hat-trick for Sir David.
