The question all racing enthusiasts will be asking is if there is a creole capable of stopping the combination of owner Lord Michael Taylor, and trainer Anderson Ward, from sweeping the classics this year?
Will this dynamic duo start the season with another one-two finish?
Since we have no Paul The Octopus in Barbados, we will have to wait until this afternoon – when the first classic of the year runs off – to get the answer.
Istanbul, drawn in stall No. 7, will spearhead Taylor’s powerful three-prong attack in the Guardian General Insurance Breeders’ Stakes & Trophy (Gr.11. Bar) for Barbados-bred three-year-old creoles over 1 570 metres.
Istanbul will start as favourite, and justifiably so, having scored four victories from eight career starts.
The best of these was a hard-fought triumph in the Diamonds International Mont Blanc Bonus Challenge Stakes & Trophy (Gr.1) over 1 570 metres.
On form he looks hard to beat, though stablemate Island Memories just failed to catch him in the aforementioned race, where he encountered a little traffic problem by the three-furlong marker.
However, should Island Memories get a smooth trip this time around, he is fancied to turn the table on Istanbul, though in horse racing there are few guarantees.
In Island Memories’ favour is that the track will have plenty of give because of the recent intermittent showers.
Staying with Blue Diamonds Stable, Reprise was an easy winner in (Div. B) of the 111 Diamonds International Mont Blanc Doue Conditions Race for West Indian-bred maidens over 1 570 metres.
She will improve after that run, but will find others in this event with much more experience, and simply better at this stage.
The Sir Charles Williams-owned Kendal Moon has no idea what defeat tastes like, and the barn expects her to keep it that way.
However, her stamina is in doubt.
The Joycies Boys-owned Nile Queen finally handed in her maiden tag recently, but she will be hard-pressed to repeat that form in this company.
Jack Is Back, owned by Faraway Stables, might have been a bit unfortunate not to have recorded a higher place last outing, as he suffered some interference when making a run at the two-furlong marker.
He has the perfect opportunity to show how good he really is today.
My Picks
Race 1: Vitality
Race 2: Golden Moment
Race 3: Ring Time
Race 4: Greely Gone West
Race 5: Zoom
Race 6: Just Jiving
Race 7: Island Memories
Race 8: Dresses
TODAY’S GARRISON RACE CARD
Post time: 1:45 p.m. Race 1. The Guardian General Flexi Motors Insurance Condition Race; for West Indian-bred three-year-olds; about 1 000 metres.
1. Neversaynever – 114 – Jonathan Grant
2. Must Be In The Money – 126 – Scratched
3. Vitality – 126 – Jolan Samuel
4. Tiny Tot – 117 – Anthony Perch
5. Verizon – 119 – Anderson Trotman
6. Whatadeal – 119 – Kenny John
7. Red October – 114 – Scratched
8. Dunwiddat – 119 – Desmond Bryan
Post time: 2:15 p.m. Race 2. The Guardian General Flexi Office Insurance Handicap; for four-year-olds-and-over (rated 00 to 75); about 1 100 metres
1. Zaltarr – 119 – Affrie Ward
2. Run Alke Run – 131 – F. Drakes-Small
3. Bloomberg – 130 – Renaldo Cumberbatch
4. Sweet Enough – 133 – Paul Leacock
5. Spellbound – 130 – Jalon Samuel
6. Golden Moment – 127 – Kyle Carter
7. Bond Street – 116 – Scratched
8. Fedrica – 125 – Desmond Bryan
9. Inforthefun – 108 – Jonathan Grant
Post time: 2:45 p.m. Race 3. The Guardian General 24-Hour Motors Assist Handicap; for three-year-olds-and-over (rated 00 to 90); about 1 570 metres
1. Captain Sully – 111 – Jolan Samuel
2. No Spine Zone – 121 – Desmond Bryan
3. Grace Chapel – 118 – Anderson Trotman
4. Ring Time – 130 – Kyle Carter
5. Run Alke Run – 111 – Scratched
6. Vandross – 127 – Affrie Ward
7. Sea Gypsy – 124 – Rickey Walcott
8. Bram Stoker – 122 – Kenny John
9. Time D’Or – 129 – Christopher Husbands
Post time: 3:15 p.m. Race 4. The Guardian General Flexi Commercial Fire Insurance Condition Race; for three-year-olds; about 1 100 metres.
1. Byhookorbycreek – 121 – Kyle Carter
2. Intact – 119 – Jonathan Grant
3. Great Goomba – 114 – Kenny John
4. Little Man Arran – 119 – Desmond Bryan
5. Greeley Gone West – 119 – Renaldo Cumberbatch
6. Nomoreginrog – 119 – Anderson Trotman
7. Giovedi – 122 – V. Charles
8. Go Zapper – 122 – Rico Walcott
9. Royal Spirit – 126 – Jolan Samuel
10. Jury Pool – 117 – Christopher Husbands
11. Happening Now – 117 – K. Chandler
12. Daga – 121 – Scratched
13. Aysha’s Time – 114 – Scratched
Post time: 3:45 p.m. Race 5. The BTBA Garrison Turf Stakes and Trophy Condition Race; for Barbados-bred four-year-olds-and-over; about 2 000 metres.
1. Don Portalsonny – 114 – Jolan Samuel
2. Local Speed – 110 – Kenny John
3. Heavenly Angel – 110 – Jonathan Grant
4. Eye Of The Tiger – 114 – Affrie Ward
5. Island Lad – 110 – Jonathan Grant
6. Zoom – 119 – Renaldo Cumberbatch
7. Apostle – 129 – Anderson Trotman
8. Show Me The Money – 124 – Kevhen Nicholls
9. Amanyara – 110 – Kyle Carter
Post time: 4:15 pm. Race 6. The Guardian General Contractor’s “All Risk” Stakes & Trophy Insurance Handicap; for four-year-olds-and-over (rated 00 to 55); about 1 570 metres.
1. Who’s Staying – 125 – Paul Leacock
2. Que Pasa – 113 – RES 2 No Jockey Yet
3. Ned Kelly – 122 – Kyle Carter Kenny John
4. Just Jiving – 128 – Affrie Ward
5. Taj Mahal – 114 – Jonathan Grant
6. Island Lad – 121 – Scratched
7. Super Dancer – 128 – Dario Dalrymple
8. Uneverno– 125- Scratched
9. Quick City – 122 – Christopher Husbands
10. Dancebak – 115 – Anthony Perch
11. Dakdada – 123 – Renaldo Cumberbatch
12. Victor Ludorum – 130 – Jolan Samuel
13. Double Dagger – 125 – Anderson Trotman
14. Deal Or Nodeal – 125 – Rico Walcott
15. Bambi – 121 – Scratched
16. Irish Thunder – 119 – RES 1 No Jockey yet
17. Sweet Harmony – 125 – Kenny John
Post time: 4:45 p.m. Race 7. The Guardian General Insurance Breeders Stakes & Trophy; for Barbados-bred three-year-olds; about 1 570 metres.
1. Nile Queen – 121 – Christopher Husbands
2. Funny Valentine – 121 – Jonathan Grant
3. Island Memories – 126 – Kevhen Nicholls
4. Lune De Barachois – 121 – Renaldo Cumberbatch
5. Jack Is Back – 126 – Paul Leacock
6. Volcanic – 126 – Desmond Bryan
7. Istanbul – 126 – Jolan Samuel
8. Takemehomedaddee – 126 – Rico Walcott
9. Reprise – 121 – Kyle Carter
10. Ocean Pride– 126 – Kenny John
11. Kendal Moon – 121 – Anderson Trotman
12. Victoria Belle – 121 – Affrie Ward
13. Vitality – 126 – Scratched
Post time: 5:15 p.m. Race 8. The Guardian General Flexi Homeowner’s Insurance Handicap; for West Indian-bred four-year-olds-and-over maidens; about 1 100 metres.
1. Karachi – 133 – Keymar Downes
2. Dress – 121 – Christopher Husbands
3. Sweet “N” Danny – 133 – Scratched
4. Poor Paul – 113 – K. Chandler
5. Midnight Express – 114 – Desmond Bryan
6. Indian Charlie – 126 – Jalon Samuel
7. Hoof Heated – 127 – Kenny John
8. Lady Patrick Just Dance – 108 – RES 3 No Jockey yet
9. Russian Roulette– 119 – Renaldo Cumberbatch
10. Trick Or Treat– 108 – RES 1 No Jockey yet
11. Just Dance – 125 – Kyle Carter
12. Gideon – 111 – Anthony Perch
13. Tears Of The Sun – 108 – RES 4 No Jockey yet
14. Glistening – 124 – Rico Reid
15. Savannah Sun – 108 – RES 2 No Jockey yet
16. Bustamante – 133 – Anderson Trotman
17. Kudeta – 117 – V. Charles
