The United Insurance Co. Race Day – postponed last Saturday because of inclement weather and adverse track conditions – will come off tomorrow at the Garrison Savannah.
The ten-race card for the seventh day of the Barbados Turf Club’s second racing season is set to start at 12:45 p.m. with the 72nd running of the Barbados Derby – the feature event.
The United Insurance Barbados Derby – for West Indian bred three-year-olds going 2 000 metres – is being sponsored by United Insurance Company for the 27th consecutive year.
This 11-horse field is headed by the Sir Charles Williams-owned Kendal Moon and Slip Stream and the Lord Michael Taylor-owned Istanbul and Island Memories.
Another race that will create excitement is the United Star Treatment Trophy Handicap for three-year-old and older horses rated 58-80 and also open to horses rated 57 and below over 1 800 metres.
Sir David Seale’s filly Missed Storm is the standout of this group having won two of her last three starts.
She lost her maiden in the Midnight Lute Trophy Handicap for horses rated 38-60 and followed that up by taking the Kirov Lady Handicap for horses rated 48-70.
The A Team-owned Just Jiving, despite being defeated by Missed Storm, will also want to press claim to this race having won two of his last four outings.
He first took the Santa Faye Handicap for horses rated 25-50 and followed with a victory in the Pic-O-De-Crop Handicap for horses rated 38-60. Both Missed Storm’s and Just Jiving’s victories were over 1 800 metres.
The D. Yearwood, R. Simpson and L. Obi-owned Thunder Bird, while performing creditably has suffered defeats at the hands of Missed Storm and Just Jiving. He has finally been cut loose by the handicappers and appears as extremely high voltage in here.
Mystic Moon and Royal Spirits are the other winners in the field; however both are without a win this year which is a matter I’m sure their camps will want to rectify.
The others entered could use this race to create a much needed favourable impression.
Race 10 – the Ui Management Incorporated Trophy Handicap for West Indian bred three-year-olds over 1 570 metres – can be considered a consolation to the Derby field.
The Lord Michael Taylor-owned Vitality has opted out of the Derby to go here.
With him taking the top weight of 128 pounds it will however not be one-way traffic, as the likes of Fernandina, Wingman, Queen Of Hearts, Lune De Barachois and Volcanic can all take advantage of the handicappers’ generosity by turning in good performances.
The fifth staging of the T.A. “Tommy” Peirce Memorial Trophy Handicap for three-year-old and older horses rated 118-140, and also open to horses rated 117 and below over 1 570 metres will add variety.
