It was smooth sailing at the Garrison Savannah yesterday, the Barbados Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association race day, with jockey Reshawn Latchman starring as he piloted three winners on the firm track conditions.
The featured Grade 3 Francis Cozier BTBA Breeders Sprint Stakes and Trophy over 1 100 metres served as sweet revenge for winning jockey Antonio Whitehall, who after having finished second in the day’s opening event, was a casualty of the stewards, having been adjudicated to have broken the rules of riding.
There were no mistakes made in the feature event by Whitehall.
He was astride the winner Markos, who broke smartlywhen the gates openedand was quickly joinedby race favourite Vitality in a contest for the lead with Run For Your Money, Vapour Trail and The Price Is Right following closely. As the field approached the home turn, Markos kept going, with Vitality under lots of pressure to maintain his run.
Stablemate Run For Your Money made a wide surge into the homestretch as Vitality and The Price is Right started to galvanise a finishing kick by which time Run For Your Money also began to toil. But never losing momentum, Markos under his jockey’s urging, went on to register his fourth career success.
The Price Is Right, ridden by Latchman, finished fast to snatch the second spot while the early race stalker Run For Your Money, partnered by Affrie Ward, got the third and Vapour Trail, who was never a threat early, closed to take the final spot under jockey Anderson Trotman.
Latchman started the day in a blaze of glory as he lit up the tote board with 21-1 first-time starter Sans Souci for owner Rugby Farms. This daughter of Janak out of Cote D’ Azure looked around after leaving the gates; and wasted little time after that. As the field raced back to the two-furlong marker, another first timer The Lady Louise was the leader.
Having turned into the home stretch three-and-a-half lengths in front, The Lady Louise began to get leg weary midstretch and in theprocess impeded the pathof favourite Alley Cat after which she was later disqualified. While that drama unfolded San Souci sliced her way between horses and won with something in reserve. That performance also copped Latchman the Bubba’s Sunday Buffet Breakfast Ride of the Day.
Janak’s Gold made it win number three for Latchman by taking the Kabul Handicap over 1 800 metres. After stalking the leaders,the son of Janak out of All Diva mounted his final challenge approaching the final furlong and a half before pulling off a nice victory.
Latchman’s other win came via Lady Arib’s Soursop who released himself of his maiden certificate having won the Don Anglesonny Handicapover 1 570 metres for horses rated 60-42. Trainers Richard Deane (Markos and Jamaica Moon) Robert Peirce (Sugar Loaf Peak and Soursop) and Jonathon Simpson (Janak’s Gold and Savoy) combined to win six of the eight raceson the card.
