SIR CHARLES WILLIAMS celebrated his third success in the Barbados Fillies Guineas (Grade.1RF.-Bar) over 1 570 metres as his filly Vapour Trail held on for an expected but hard fought victory in yesterday’s feature race at the Garrison Savannah.
Sir Charles, whose other winners in the previous events were Lady Constance in 2004 and Kendal Moon last year, watched in amazement as the Andrew Nunes-trained speed machine showed great character and fight to hold off a determined Capere under jockey Anderson Trotman.
In the process, she moved her record to four wins from as many starts.
From the start of the event, for West Indian-bred three-year-old fillies, Vapour Trail led the field with Capere, Bandera Bella, Verkauf, Summer Time, Cane Cutter and Mrs. B in that order through comfortable fractions of 24.4 for the ¼ mile, 49.2 for the ½ mile, 1:15 ¾ of a mile before stopping the clock in a respectable one minute: 37 .1 seconds.
Regular jockey Antonio Whitehall kept his nerves as Capere and Trotman issued a challenge at the two-furlong marker, while Cane Cutter, Summer Time, Mrs. B, Dreambird and Divine Destiny all appeared at the top of the home turn with remote chances.
The leading duo continued to fight for supremacy and as they flashed by the pole, Vapour Trail emerged victorious by a head.
Summer Time, with Paul Leacock in the irons, gradually gained some ground to take third, while Mrs. B, with Kenny John astride, ran on at one pace to finish fourth.
The Champions In Pink Walk Extravaganza race day was filled with close finishes, none more riveting than the Champions Against Breast Cancer Trophy Handicap for three-year and older horses rated 73-95 and also open to horses rated 72 and below over 1 800 metres.
Turned for home
In that event, when the horses turned for home, it was Captain Sully against the rail, Cinnamon Jane in the middle, closely followed by Istanbul, A.P. Vincero and Erados across the track, with Little Man Arran even further out wide.
As the early leaders, Captain Sully and Cinnamon Jane jostled for the victory line. Little Man Arran produced a fantastic late burst under Kenny John to snatch the victory by a neck in what was another pulsating finish.
Captain Sully, ridden by Antonio Perch, held second spot with Cinnamon Jane, partnered by Jamaica’s champion rider Dick Cardenas, settling for third, while Istanbul and Jalon Samuel took fourth.
Blue Diamonds Stable enjoyed their best race day for some time as they saddled three winners on the good to firm conditions that prevailed. Stable first call rider Reshaun Latchman produced a peach of a ride to get home Spellbound in Race 3 – the Save The Tatas Trophy Handicap Division ‘A’ for four-year and older horses rated 23-50 and also open to horses rated 22 and below over 1 000 metres.
Latchman then displayed superb judgment of fractions with the colt Run For Your Money nursing him home in the Real Men Wear Pink Trophy Handicap for West Indian-bred three-year-old non winners of two and non West Indian-bred three-year-old maidens over 1 570 metres.
Blue Diamond’s third success came via rider Jalon Samuel aboard Must Be The Money who scampered home by half-length in the Early Detection Best Protection Trophy Handicap for three-years and older horses rated 60-85 and also open to horses rated 59 and below over 1 100 metres.
PICTURED: CLOSE CALL: Vapour Trail (No. 19) with Antonio Whitehall aboard holding off the challenge of second-placed Capere (No. 15) with Anderson Trotman in the saddle and third-placed Summer Time (No. 13), whose jockey is Paul Leacock in the feature Barbados Fillies Guineas.
