Thursday, March 28, 2024

Samuel out front

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Defending champion jockey Jalon Samuel leads the race for the 2011 Barbados Turf Club’s jockey championship at the end of the first season.
 His mounts have earned $248 723, having won 13 races supported with six seconds, nine thirds and seven fourths, from 55 rides.
With a winning percentage of 24, Samuel continues to do well and it is not surprising to see him at the top of the jockeys’ standings. His Blue Diamond team also leads in the owner and trainer catergories.
Samuel’s most celebrated victory was a crafty but workmanlike win aboard Bouncebak in this year’s Tanglewood Stakes & Trophy over 2 000 metres. Another top ride came aboard Istanbul in the Guardian General Stakes & Trophy.
He has formed a great partnership with the impressive imported filly Daga, winning four races on the trot.
It was not all glory for Samuel, as he felt the heavy hand of the stewards after crossing the line first in the Sandy Lane Gold Cup with Show Me The Money and was disqualified.
An area where he really needs to pay attention is that of his body weight as he fringes on the heavy side.
Second in the table is Anderson Trotman whose mounts have earned $139 387 from 50 rides. He has won 11 races, with nine seconds, five thirds, and six fourths.
This category, which is decided by wins, sees Trotman two wins shy but over $100 000 adrift with a winning percentage of 22.
Trotman is keeping pace nicely but has found winning the big races difficult.
His last major success came in the Rotherly Construction Inc Barbados Thoroughbred Breeders Association Sales Graduates Stakes & Trophy condition race over 1 100 metres on Day 4.
In that race for three-year-olds, Trotman partnered the Sir Charles and Lady Williams-owned Slip Stream. He is expected to keep pressing his claim for championship success.
Kenny John is in third spot with total earnings of $120 430. His six winners earned him a win percentage of 11.5 supported by eight seconds, eight thirds and eight fourths.
John’s moment in the limelight came aboard Bipin [owned by the estate of Yusuf Mongroo]  as they combined to win the seventh Sandy Lane Spa Sprint Stakes & Trophy over 1 100 metres.
John has found the transition from apprentice to full fledged jockey tough but still seems focused.
Ricky Walcott is in fourth place with earnings of $58 170. He has accumulated six wins, two seconds, one third and two fourths from 23 rides, with a winning percentage of 26.
Quite noticeably he enjoys a high win percentage but has not been amongst the rides, something that only he can explain. Walcott needs to settle down and exhibit his true potential.
The second season will be a very interesting one from the jockeys’ point of view. Most of the overseas based riders will return to their respective tracks to take up professional duties.
The latest to head abroad are Reshaun Latchman, Jason Leacock and Chris Husbands and they are expected to be joined by Kenny John and Affrie Ward. While we wish them well, it offers the opportunity for some of the younger apprentices to hone and showcase their skills.
A future champion can come from the likes of Antonio Perch, Fernandez Drakes-Small, Antonio Whitehall and Anderson Clarke Jnr, to name a few.

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