Aston Martin will open his 2012 campaign when he meets eight rivals in today’s feature event – the Barbados Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Breeders’ Stakes & Trophy – at 3:35 p.m.
The Mark Armstrong-owned, Victor Cheeseman-trained colt will be looking to make it two wins on the trot at the Garrison Savannah in Race 7 on the ten-race card. This Grade II event for Barbados-bred three-year-olds goes over 1 570 metres.
Already the people’s favourite, Aston Martin romped to a one-and-a-half length victory over this bunch in the Diamonds International MontBlanc Challenge Series & Stakes at the same trip.
A repeat of that performance looks very much on the cards as the son of Carpe Dien-Rosie Red Bear continues to improve.
His main challenges should come from Dipitinmoney, Rickoshey, Capere and Galaxy.
After two convincing victories, Blue Diamond Stable-owned Dipitinmoney was largely disappointing when she failed to find a place in the above-mentioned race won by Aston Martin.
Now drawn on the outside, she will be looking to make amends but it won’t be an easy task.
Stable mate Rickoshey, after his maiden triumph in the Diamond International MontBlanc Meisterstuck Stakes & Trophy over 1 000 metres, ran an enterprising second to Aston Martin.
That being his first attempt at 1 570 metres, one can expect another gallant effort from this colt who hails from champion trainer Anderson Ward’s barn.
Galaxy, owned by Gay Smith, has run well in his two starts to date, placing fourth on debut to Dipitinmoney in the New Castle Trophy Condition race over 1 570 metres where he was beaten by only three-and-a-quarter lengths.
Trainer Edward Walcott Jr then entered him in the Diamond International Gift Condition race where he recorded a length-and-a-half victory.
With further improvement on the card, the son of Thady Quill-Peace Angel should give another good account.
Another Victor Cheeseman-trained horse that has been impressive lately is the Raphael Green-owned Capere.
Although her lone victory when she coasted home in the Kabul Allotted Weights Race over 1 000 metres now seems eons ago, her most recent efforts have offered inspiration.
First, she was a courageous third to Aston Martin in the Diamonds International MontBlanc Challenge Series & Trophy. She then lost by a neck to Verkauf in the 2011 Sales Graduates Futurity Condition race for two-year-olds over
1 100 metres, and those efforts are sufficient to keep her an honest threat.
Trainer Nunes’ charge Gorgeous has shown some promise from her previous outings, having recorded two seconds and a third place as her best efforts. Going the extra distance, she will need to find plenty more.
The Christopher Gibbs-owned Leave A Message looked promising on debut but seems in need of more time to get on par.
The other runner Cane Cutter, out of Blue Diamonds Stable, has not shown anything to recommend her.
My Picks
Race 1: Quick City
Race 2: Jessie James
Race 3: Run For Your Money
Race 4: Shared Adventure
Race 5: Show Me The Money
Race 6: Peaceful Envoy
Race 7: Aston Martin
Race 8: Thunder Bird
Race 9: Spellbound
Race 10: Just U And Me
