The Pinnacle Feeds Midsummer Creole Classic will be an epic race at the Garrison Savannah on Saturday with plenty of incentivesfor the winning connections.
General manager and director of Pinnacle Feeds Limited, Jason Sambrano, wasted no time during yesterday’s launch of the event in the Incitatus members lounge at the Barbados Turf Club by issuing a special challenge to Guineas winner Gandalf on his company’s behalf.
“If he should go on and be successful in winning the 1 800 metres Midsummer Creole Classic, we will feed him with Pinnacle Feeds until the Derby,” Sambrano said.
“Once you’re on the Pinnacle nutrition, you should receive Pinnacle results,” he added.
The challenge, he said, was in an effort to encourage a repeat of the 2009 feat, which saw the last Triple Crown winner in Areutalkintome.
Sambrano later presented $40 000 and a trophy and also outlined the many prizes his company will be offering on Pinnacle Feeds Midsummer Creole Classic Raceday.
“We are excited to be here. We have been extensive over the years with the BTC and our relationship brings lots of value to the horse racing fraternity. As a tourism product, the club does an excellent job representing the historic Garrison area,” he said, noting there is potential in termsof sports tourism.
He said while the winning trainer of the feature race will receive ten bags of pinnacle feeds, the day’s successful trainers, jockeys and grooms of each race will be well rewarded.
Champion trainer Victor Cheesemen, while indicating he would be looking to win the second jewel with Gandalf, admitted it will be a tough task.
“Brave Star, who decimated Gandalf bya whopping ten lengths in their last meeting, is a very good horse despite being unable to trainthree weeks before the Guineas. His sickness was very unfortunate,” Cheeseman said.
“Fingers crossed; we will see what happens and he’s hoping for a good day and that everything goes right for the ten contenders,” added Cheeseman.
BTC director Angela Simpson promised an extremely interesting race despite the two outstanding favourites.
“We thank all for attending. It’s our pleasureto have Pinnacle Feeds back again and we will welcome them back next year,” she said.
Post time for the first race on the eight-race programme is 1:45 p.m. (LY)
