by TYRONE EVELYN

EIGHTEEN OF THE 22 HORSES originally nominated for this year's Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup stood their ground when the second and final nomination stage closed at the Barbados Turf Club last week.

The four horses nominated at the first stage but pulled out at the final stage are Copy That, Bajan Queen and China Silk, all from Barbados; and Hello Yankee from Trinidad and Tobago.

Sharp Impact and Whiskey For Me, winners of the 2006 and 2007 Gold Cup respectively, head the 12 horses which have been again nominated in an effort to represent Barbados in the March 1 event.

Second nomination

The Gay Smith-owned, Edward Walcott Jnr.-trained Sharp Impact is one of three horses nominated for the region's most prestigious race with a second nomination on Gold Cup day.

He has also been nominated for The V Sandy Lane Spa Sprint Stakes & Trophy scheduled to run over 1 100 metres.

The other two horses nominated for another race on Gold Cup day are champion three-year-old for 2007 Apostle and stablemate Border Secret.

Both have also been nominated for The V1 Tangelwood Stakes & Trophy expected to go over a distance of 2 000 metres.

Zarad's in

In addition to Sharp Impact, Smith will also be represented in the Gold Cup by Zarad, which finished second to his stablemate in 2006.

In addition to Whiskey For Me, trainer Liz Deane will be represented in the Gold Cup by Who's Wavering, which finished second to stablemate Whiskey For Me last year, and Duc D Fer, an easy winner of his last start.

Also nominated are the Victor Cheeseman-trained Atul, which finished fourth in last year's event; the Sir David Seale-owned Favorite Player and John Brian; the William Clarke-trained Pure Temptation; and Storm Arrow, also owned by Smith and trained by Walcott.

Switch to France

At the first nomination stage, five horses were nominated from Martinique including a seven-year-old animal named Itzmo. However, when the final nominations were accepted last week, Itzmo was no longer listed as representing Martinique, but France instead.

Martinique's four nominees are Capsulite, Demon Salsa, Laurandal and My Man, while Trinidad's lone nominee is Storm Street.

Below is the final list of horses nominated for the Gold Cup.

Barbados: Apostle, Atul, Border Secret, Duc D Fer, Favorite Player, John Brian, Pure Temptation, Sharp Impact, Storm Arrow, Whiskey For Me, Who's Wavering, Zarad.

Trinidad and Tobago: Storm Street Martinique: Capsulite, Demon Salsa, Laurandal, My Man

France: Itzmo

Below is the list of horses nominated at the second stage for the V1 Tangelwood Stakes & Trophy (there is a third and final nomination stage).

Barbados: Apostle, Arm Candy, Bachelor Boy, Border Secret, Charlie Blue, Chuckthewoodchuck, Don Anglesonny, First Edition, Hawayan Tropic, Lady Flood, Top Lady, Walk On By

Trinidad and Tobago: Chief Commander, Funkylikeahtrain, Godspell

Below is the list of horses nominated at the second stage for the V Sandy Lane Spa Sprint Stakes & Trophy (there is a third and final nomination stage).

Barbados: Enchanted Lake, Good Intent, Hot Shot, I'mjusttoomuch, Just U And Me, Lightning Pilot, Morethanawomen, Old Brigand, Perfect Gem, Primed 'N' Loaded, Preach To Me, Sharp Impact, Tiga Lily, The Navigator, Trinity, Who's Crusin', Who's To Say.