An incredible?battle awaits racing enthusiasts as seven of the best horses in training vie for supremacy on Amstel Cup Race Day at the Garrison Savannah, today.
The feature, the Amstel Cup over 2 000 metres, is expected to dispel all rumours as to who is the best top-rated route horse in the country and unearth racing’s next superstar.
In this test of stamina only Apostle, Areutalkintome and Show Me The Money have won at the trip, while the others with the exception of Daga have all enjoyed success over 1 800 metres.
In this weight for age event with plenty of speed involved, riding tactics will make the difference between success and defeat.
Apostle, winner of the Barbados Derby and the WITRA Classic – both over 2 000 metres – in 2008, has been the undisputed top horse for years, but he has found the going tough in his 2012 campaign, managing only two third-place finishes from his three outings.
Show Me The Money’s victory at the distance came via the Garrison Turf Stakes in 2010, while his last major success against the top-rated horses came back in the 2011 Val Gale Cup over 1 570 metres.
Since then, he has been nothing more than moderate and has been having his share of problems. One can expect him to go down fighting.
Graeme Hill is drawn in the middle of the speedsters. He will get plenty of smoke in his face early but once he recovers he can get involved especially if the speedsters run out of gas.
His last good effort saw him winning this year’s Coolmore “Home Of Champions” Stakes & Trophy over 1 800 metres, after which his form declined.
Dancin David recovered from an ordinary start to his local career with a resounding Gold Cup success in March. He then came up short next outing over 1 570 metres but returned in the Lost In The Fog Handicap where he annihilated the competition, which included four of today’s runners, by seven lengths with the 114-pounds penny stamp.
He is the form horse here and is touted as the next rising star, which can be confirmed with a win.
Areutalkintome, the winner of the 2009 Triple Crown, has made a miraculous recovery from a career-threatening accident.
He returned from a year’s layoff with an awesome victory in the Sandy Lane Spa Sprint and then handed weight all around enroute to his second triumph from as many starts in the Street Vendor Handicap also at 1 100 metres, confirming his status as the island best sprinter.
His last route success came in 2010 in the Barbados Thoroughbred Breeders Association Breeders Classic over 1 800 metres.
While his form is good, tactics will decide his fate as this bunch is nothing like what he has been leaving in his wake.
Giovedi has improved with time and took a giant step forward when he turned the form books on Dancin David by winning the Kendal Moon Trophy Handicap over 1 570 metres. Dancin David had defeated him by 18-plus lengths in the Gold Cup. Giovedi has also scored over 1 800 metres and figures to be involved again.
Daga’s wins have all come at 1 570 metres and she now seems to have made a full recovery from an illness last year and has been trailing Dancin David in recent times.
Her connections are very sweet on her chances, plus her sex allowance should work in her favour.
My Picks
Race 1: Serenity Storm (Nap)
Race 2: Fuh Real
Race 3: Jusanotheropinion
Race 4: Purr Class
Race 5: Kingdora
Race 6: Show Me The Money
Race 7: Time D’or
Race 8: Tornade
