The Rotherley Construction Inc./ Barbados Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Sales Graduates Stakes is one race to look forward to on the fourth day of the Barbados Turf Club’s first racing season for 2011 at the Garrison on Saturday.
In this 1 100-metre event for West Indian-bred three-year-old colts and geldings, previous winners will take 123 pounds, and maidens will go to post with 116 pounds.
The Lord Michael Taylor-owned and Anderson Ward-trained pair of Vitality and Must Be The Money, drawn in positions one and two respectively, looks hard to separate.
Vitality is seeking a hat-trick of wins after scoring victories in the Diamonds International Mont Blanc Doue Conditions Race (Division A) over 1 570 metres; and the Guardian General Flexi Motor Insurance Conditions Race over 1 000 metres.
On those performances, Vitality will prove difficult to beat from this draw, and at the distance.
Must Be The Money, winner of the Diamonds International Mont Blanc Star Walker Gents Stakes & Trophy over 1 000 metres – in which Vitality was second – will once again seek to outdo Vitality.
However, it will take a bigger effort this time around.
Monumental task
The other winner in this field, Jack Is Back, owned by the Faraway Stables, will have it all to do from the outside post, which looks a monumental task for him.
While he has remained consistent, he still looks to have some making up to match the celebrated duo mentioned above.
The Jonathan Simpson-owned Whatadeal is nicely coming to hand, along with Dunwiddat, owned by Elias Haloute.
These two could battle it out for the minor ends of the purse.
The card has attracted 103 entrants in total and starts at 1:15 p.m.
Another top-class supporting race is the fillies’ edition of the Rotherley Construction Inc./ Barbados Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Sales Graduates Stakes for West Indian-bred three-year-old fillies over 1 100 metres.
Conditions here are the same as for the colts and geldings where weights are concerned.
The Sir Charles Williams-owned Slip Stream will be out for revenge, having suffered a heavy defeat in the Diamonds International Mont Blanc Bonus Challenge Stakes & Trophy over 1 570 metres, at the hands of the resilient Istanbul.
Slip Stream returns to a distance many believe is the one she is most comfortable at.
Her four victories from six starts are better than the cumulative efforts of the rest of the field in this category.
All things considered, she looks very much a certainty.
Ian Corbin’s Foxy Baba got a workmanlike victory in the Eustace “Tinnings” Jordan Memorial Conditions Race (Division B) over 1 100 metres; but she will find some in this event of a different class and might be hard pressed to match strides.
Relaxed style
Though speedy, she will want to avoid a duel with Slip Stream.
The other horse to have visited the winners’ enclosure is Lord Michael Taylor-owned Reprise, who defeated a field of 12 starters in the 111 Diamonds International Mont Blanc Doue (Division B) conditions race over 1 570 metres.
She has improved, but might find this race a little on the short side for her more relaxed style, and could come running after the winner is long gone.
