A fantastic day of horse racing awaits racing enthusiasts when the Barbados Turf Club stages the United Insurance Company Limited race day tomorrow at the historic Garrison Savannah.
The centre of attraction on the nine-race programme, the club’s seventh day of action in this the second season is the United Insurance Barbados Derby, the third jewel of the Barbados Triple Crown – a Grade I event for West Indian-bred three-year-olds over 2 000 metres.
A full complement of 12 horses will face the starter. However, interest will rest solely on whether the number five filly Nekitta can win this event and become Barbados’ seventh Triple Crown winner.
Before the running of the pattern event, fans are guaranteed to be jumping with excitement as the three best top-rated horses in the country will clash in the T. A. “Tommy” Peirce Memorial Trophy Handicap condition race over 1 570 metres.
The top weight of 130 pounds in this event for three-years and older horses rated 120-140 and also open to horses rated 119 and below is shared by this year’s Sandy Lane Gold Cup winner, the Sir David Seale-owned Aristodemus and H and M-owned Sandy Lane Spa Sprint Stakes and Trophy winner Shared Adventure.
Completing that top trio is the Gay Smith-owned Meteorite, who will shoulder 125 pounds, a weight that is also carried by Daga and Discreetwon.
The scoreline between Aristodemus and Shared Adventure at this distance is two wins for the former and one for the latter.
Several questions could be answered here: Who is the better horse at the distance even though recent form favours Aristodemus?
Can the Gold Cup winner beat Shared Adventure on firm or good conditions? Can he defeat the sprint king of the country carrying the heavy impost?
Some might disagree with the claim that Meteorite is among the top three horses in the country, especially when his only claim to fame is his defeat of Kendal Moon.
His elevation to number one horse at Springhead Stable, his consistency with the big guns in major races, in particular the Coolmore Home Of Champion Stakes And Trophy, and his third place finish in the Gold Cup are clear testimony to his remarkable improvement.
Nevertheless, he is yet to win a race involving Aristodemus and Shared Adventure. On paper and present form it seems as if they others will be up against it and might have to settle for positions four and down.
The Blue Diamond pair of Show Me The Money and Daga will have to produce out-of-their-skin performances in order to convince supporters that they can still compete with the big three.
This will be Discreetwon’s first start since his disappointing effort in the Gold Cup.
