AMANYARA WILL BE seeking to continue her impressive run of form, when she sets out to conquer the ladies in the Barbados Fillies Guineas at the historic Garrison Savannah today.
This indomitable filly, owned by Melrose racing, has won three races, and has finished outside the ranks only twice in nine starts; but added to all that she is also on course to become a Triple Crown winner, and emulate a feat last achieved by Zouk.
Her first victory was over 1 100 metres against West Indian-bred two-year-old maidens on August 8, 2009. After this Amanyara stepped up her game considerably to defeat the top three-year-olds at long odds, in the Michael Parravicino Memorial Hopeful Breeders’ Stakes And Trophy over 1 570 metres.
To prove those victories were no flukes, the classy Amanyara conquered all in the Caribbean Money Market Brokers Barbados Guineas over 1 570 metres, the first jewel of the Barbados Triple Crown, with a ruthless display over the crème de la crème of top three-years-olds, coasting home by two and a quarter lengths.
The eye-catching feature in that race was the high cruising speed Amanyara displayed, reminiscent of that shown by Apostle and Areutalkintome, when they were the leading three-year-olds of their respective years.
The Naz Issa-trained three-year-old will not be without challengers however, as stablemate, Leave It To Me has a very good record with three impressive wins from her six career starts.
A factor to be considered with Leave It To Me, is that her lack of early speed means that the stall draw is normally significant. This has hindered her early positioning in past starts, and has had a bearing on her performance, when left with too much to do, and it cost her dearly.
Amanyara and Leave It To Me, have both defeated each other twice over 1 570 metres. But to spice up this event, many pundits believe that the Lady Williams-owned Outeniqua, has what it takes to separate the two favourites. Whereas she has failed to win a race with Leave It To Me, she defeated Amanyara in the Rotherly Construction Inc. “Quality” Trophy over 1 570 metres.
Outeniqua is an honest filly and always gives her best, and with her usual partner Anderson Trotman in the saddle, one can rest assured she’ll make it a tough race.
Of the others, the Diana Jones-owned Sea Gypsy turned in her maiden certificate with a win over West Indian three-year-olds on January 30 over 1 570 metres. She then failed to impress next start in the Michael Parravicino Memorial Hopeful Breeders’ Stakes And Trophy, before returning to run a corker and finished second to Amanyara in the Caribbean Money Market Brokers’ Barbados Guineas.
Kimanshia is the only other entrant in this field to have won a race. The Ken Hamblin owned-filly won the Saratoga County Trophy (condition race) over 1570 metres. It will take a Herculean effort for her to pull this one off.
Jamaica Moon trained by Andrew Nunes, is a filly on the improve, with a pair of thirds in her last two starts, while the Gay Smith-owned pair of Heavenly Angel and Glistening are still behind the clock and have their work cut out for them.
MY PICKS
Race 1: Local Speed
Race 2: Gin For Me
Race 3: Who’s At Home
Race 4: TajMahal
Race 5: River Bay
Race 6: Leave It To Me
Race 7: Who’s To Say
Race 8: Slammin n’ Jammin
