Saturday’s running of the Michael Parravicino Hopeful Breeders’ Stakes & Trophy at the Garrison Savannah is the final stakes race before the quest begins to discover if there will be a seventh Jewel Of Barbados Triple Crown winner.
The previous winners were Watersmeet (1973), Ginger Lily (1980), Coo Bird (1989), Incitatus (1996), Zouk (2006), and Areutalkintome (2009).
Since their introduction to the race track the three-year-olds have been very impressive. From 28 races we have witnessed 18 different winners at distances ranging from 1 000 to 1 570 metres.
As the Triple Crown beckons – the Barbados Guineas (1 570 metres), the Midsummer Creole Classic (1 800 metres) and the Derby (2 000 metres) – there have been some outstanding performances and with further improvement expected, race fans are hopefully in for something special.
Of the juveniles, Aston Martin, Iamsogroovy and Verkauf are winners of three races while the likes of Chatter Box, Dipitinmoney, Chimichurri and Vapour Trail have recorded double strikes.
We have witnessed ten races at the Guineas trip shared among seven horses.
Mark Armstrong’s Aston Martin has stamped his class by taking the Diamonds International Mont Blanc Challenge Stakes & Trophy, after which he made light work of the field in the Barbados Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Breeders’ Stakes & Trophy. At this stage he appears to be in a league of his own and must be respected.
C.N. Parravicino’s Chatter Box has delivered on his initial promise and is highly thought of. He first took the Diamonds International Gift Condition Race Division A, before returning to take the Wood Work Trophy Condition race.
Lord Michael Taylor’s filly Dipitinmoney was the first to win at the trip, recording back-to-back strikes as a two-year-old in the Newcastle Trophy Condition race and the William “Bill” Marshall DFC SCM Memorial Creole Classic Stakes & Trophy.
She seems to have gone off the boil a bit but trainer Anderson Ward will be aware of what needs to be done.
Gay Smith’s Galaxy won Division B of the Diamonds International Gift Condition race and appears in need of more time; he will welcome any additional ground.
Mrs B, owned by Parravicino, won the Diamonds International Mont Blanc Twinfly Condition race and looks like one who will improve with time and a distance of ground.
Senator John Hutson’s gelding Nuf Trouble handed in his maiden certificate in the Grandstand Posse Paul Best Trophy Handicap Division A. Potentially, he is one that can give trouble as time progresses.
Open Secret is the final horse to have won at that trip. This daughter of 1993 Derby winner Secret Habitat looked the part when getting the victory in Division B of the above mentioned race.
The filly, owned by Sir Charles Williams, could be a major player the further she goes.
The sprint races have produced some impressive winners who should be factored into the equation. Vapour Trail and Chimichurri, both owned by Sir Charles, readily spring to mind.
The latter has not been seen since last year and will need some time while Vapour Trail has displayed that killer instinct.
Lord Michael Taylor’s Verkauf and Aysha Syndicate’s filly Iamsogroovy have gotten the job done but their stamina looks questionable among the top three-year-olds.
