Areyoutalkintome can put to rest the doubt as to who is the best locally bred creole in the country at the moment, by winning the Barbados Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Breeders’ Classic for locally bred three-year-olds and older horses going 1 800 metres.
The afternoon’s feature race will be graced by the Barbados Triple Crown winner Areyoutalkintome coming up against six other opponents. These include Zoom and Walk On By the two recent winners of the Tanglewood Stakes and Trophy 2009 and 2010, respectively: and the last winner of the Queen’s Plate, Show Me The Money.
Despite the absence of Apostle and Leave It To Me, two winners of the Barbados Derby, this high quality field shows that our breeding industry has been producing some of the finest equine athletes and highlights the achievements of the 25-year-old Breeders’ Association, constitutionally formed in 1985.
All racing enthusiasts should be extremely proud of this progress.
Heading the field is the Joseph brothers-owned Areyoutalkintome (127), who has had an almost flawless career to date, and the Triple Crown winner, whose record stands at ten wins and four seconds from 15 career starts, will more than likely start favourite. Areyoutalkintome failed miserably in his last attempt at this distance, though that was in this year’s Gold Cup ,won by Canadian invader Sterwin.
However, that experience would have done him the world of good, and with the right tactics employed, I expect that he will be give a very good account of himself.
Show Me The Money, owned by racing magnet Lord Michael Taylor, is the one most racing pundits believe can upstage the hot favourite Areyoutalkintome, if not take the spoils. This year’s Queen’s Plate winner is a very consistent animal and is always a worthy opponent.
Adding to Show Me The Money’s chances is the recent improvement in the form of his trainer Andy Ward, who is now firing on all cylinders. The colt loves the distance and will stay forever, plus he is nicely handicapped, receiving five pounds from Areyoutalkintome.
Melrose and Clifton Racing will be represented by Amanyara and Up The Ante. The adorable filly Amanyara will be surely tested as she moves up in class and despite the light impost of 107 pounds, will find this bunch a totally new assignment.
I expect her to give another good account of herself as she continues to improve, and notably she will be partnered by apprentice Kyle Carter, fresh from his quite sensational exploits at the Northland Park race course in Canada. No doubt she will run her heart out.
Up The Ante (107) is the second runner for Melrose and Clifton Racing, and might be outclassed in this company.
The other Joseph brothers entrant is Walk On By, nicely weighted at 112 pounds, but this year’s Tanglewood Stakes and Trophy winner is thought to be the second choice of the stable, with preference for the chances of Areyoutalkintome.
The Gay Smith barn has failed to fire in the second season, with performances that are way short of the high standard previously set. This highly respected operation will be represented by the pair of Zoom and Erados, both handicapped at 112 pounds.
The five-year-old Tanglewood winner Zoom, looked like his old form was returning when he just failed to catch Janaki in the Zouk handicap over 1 100 metres for horses rated 0-105. Unfortunately, he suffered a further setback when falling in the Val Gale Cup over 1 800 metres, but once he is fully recovered I expect him to be as competitive as usual.
Stable mate Erados has mountains to climb if he is to cause the upset of the decade in what is shaping to be a showpiece today.
My Picks
Race 1 = 5 Royal Spirit
Race 2 =13 Kendal Moon
Race 3 = 4 Ifnottodaytomorrow
Race 4 = 2 Sweet and Sour
Race 5 = 1 Who’s Cruisin
Race 6 = 1 Must Be The Money
Race 7 = 3 Just Jiving
Race 8 = 8 Areyoutalkintome
Race 9 = 3 Moonstone (HC)
