BOUNCEBAK recorded a pole-to-pole victory in the 12th running of the Coolmore “Home Of Champions” Stakes & Trophy over 1 800 metres at the Garrison Savannah yesterday.
The result has left race fans in a quandary, as Bouncebak has not been nominated for the Gold Cup.
The Lord Michael Taylor-owned mare dismissed her eight opponents, all Gold Cup nominees, with consummate ease in the event for three-year-old and older horses rated 0-140.
At the crack of the gates, Bouncebak, under champion jockey Jalon Samuel, went straight to the lead and maintained a generous gallop throughout on the soft track.
Stablemate Pure Temptation kept traffic at bay in second spot, followed by Spicey Tiger, John Brian and Reward Me, while the raging hot favourite Mingun Temple raced mid-pack.
Positions remained unchanged as Bouncebak carved out factions of 50 seconds for the half-mile, 117.4 for ¾-mile, and the mile in 144.4 seconds. The others were all hard-pressed to close the gap.
John Brian and Mingun Temple threw down a huge challenge to the long-time leader at the two-furlong marker, getting within a length.
Turning for home, the motionless Samuels released a few wraps and Bouncebak sprinted clear, stopping the clock
in 200.1 seconds. The victory margin of four-and-a-half lengths could easily have been more.
Reward Me ran a stout race under Keveh Nicholls to take second. Charge It, ridden by Paul Leacock, was third, and Mingun Temple, under Anderson Trotman, fourth.
Samuel won two races on the day’s card. His other win came on Ocean Pride in the Hurricane Run Condition Race over 1 570 metres for West Indian-bred three-year-old maidens.
The Clifford Grandison-owned gelding had finished second to Fernandina but suffered interference close to the line and an objection was lodged by the connections.
After reviewing the tape and hearing the evidence from both jockeys, the results were amended.
Another jockey to record a double was Antonio Perch, who produced two flawless rides.
He started with the Stephen Kellman-owned Johnny Sad Boy in Race 3 – the Danehill Dancer Handicap for three-year-olds and older horses rated 0-60, over 1 100 metres.
Three races later, Perch was at his brilliant best aboard the Cameron Carter-owned filly Sweet And Sour.
He put down what can only be described as the ride of the day.
With two furlongs remaining, Sweet And Sour was being nursed into contention.
Turning for home in sixth position and out wide, apprentice Perch then switched her to the inside with a few left-handed reminders. They proceeded to reel in Lamara, ridden by Samuel, with every stride, with Perch eventually posing for the camera as they flashed past the pole.
Training honours went to the unheralded Neil Brathwaite who recorded a rare double strike with Sweet And Sour and Supercharge.
Supercharge, ridden by Jonathon Grant, won the Holy Roman Emperor Handicap (Division B) for four-year-olds and older, rated 0-40, over 1 570 metres.
