BENEFITING FROM A GEM of a ride by Panamanian-born, Trinidad-based jockey Nobel Abrego, Melrose and Clifton Racing’s bay filly Leave It To Me conquered all with a superb run to win the seventh edition of the Barbados Fillies Guineas for West Indian three-year-olds at the Garrison Savannah yesterday.
Comfortably settled in fifth position behind front-runners Glistening, Jamaica Moon, Outeniqua and Amanyara in the early part of the race going 1570 metres, jockey Abrego then asked Leave It To Me to stay with stablemate Amanyara at the two furlong pole, as the closers launched their assault on the leading pair.
The Naz Issa-trained pair of Amanyara and Leave It To Me swept by all comers and locked up head-to-head coming into the straight and they would battle it out going up the stretch,followed by Sea Gypsy who looked ominous at this stage, and Outeniqua.
By mid-stretch it became a two-horse race, however, as it was clear third and fourth-placed finishers Sea Gypsy and Outeniqua would not get on terms with the front-runners, who were clearly in a battle royale.
Amanyara tried her best but went under to Leave It To Me by a head at the pole.
“It is an absolutely fantastic feeling to run first and second as both my charges were working very well,” owner Peter Odle told SUNSPORT. Trainer Issa said:”I expected both to run well, as they are very fit and sound.”
A beaming Abrego added: “She’s a lovely filly and when I asked her to attack with one furlong to go, she travelled smoothly for the victory.”
The Zouk Handicap for three-year-olds and older going 1 100 metres also produced a sensational finish on a great day of racing, and saw the Yusuf Mongroo-owned Janaki switch from inside to outside to snatch victory on the line from second-placed finisher, Gay Smith-owned Zoom.
Zoom amazingly was about 16 lengths off the leader at the two-furlong pole. Azwa turned for home clear by three lengths and seemed to have the race at her mercy, but halfway up the homestretch she shortened her stride badly and just hung on for third, while early pace stalker Dark Knight stayed on for fourth.
Trainers Boston John and Liz Deane had a pair of wins each: John with Sweet Harmony in the Lady Constance Handicap over 1 800 metres and Janaki in the Zouk Handicap, and Deane with Who Calling in the Santa Faye Handicap going 1 000 metres and Gone Prospecting in the Kate O’Connor Handicap over 1 570 metres.
Jolan Samuel recorded the day’s only riding double, both for the Ayasha Syndicate and trainer Liz Deane.
Aprentice jockey Affie Ward returned from injury with a wire-to-wire victory on the Victor Cheeseman-trained Kudam in the Fresh Milk Handicap over 1 000 metres to close out the afternoon’s proceedings.
