The name Lord Michael Taylor is fast becoming a household name in Barbados, and his Blue Diamond Stables has now become synonymous with success.
The sight of his colours – white body with royal blue diamond on the jersey, royal blue sleeves, and scarlet cap – racing around the track and entering the winners’ enclosure is a familiar feature of racing at the Garrison Savannah.
For the third consecutive year, Taylor is champion owner in horse racing in Barbados after capturing the 2010 crown.
Investment
He continues to reap the rewards of his investment in horse racing in Barbados and deserves every success.
Interestingly enough, the hat-trick of victories has come with three different trainers: William Clarke (2008), Robert Pierce (2009), and Anderson Ward (2010).
In all three years he has also seen his first call rider win the jockeys’ championship, with Anderson Ward taking the honours in 2008 and 2009, and Jalon Samuel in 2010.
A look at Taylor’s achievement, by season, shows that his charges had a less encouraging start to the year by his standards, winning only six races from 71 starters for a winning percentage of eight per cent.
Despite those below-average returns, the stable was upbeat and still managed to lead in earnings, amassing $154 997 for the first season.
The winner in this category is determined by earnings and not wins.
The chasing pack was led by Gay Smith with three winners and earnings of $118 001, followed by brothers Attie Joseph III and Saffie Joseph Jr (six winners, $103 372), Melrose and Clifton Racing (five winners, $99 355) and Ayasha Syndicate (five winners, $99 104).
Adjustments
The stable also had to make adjustments during the early part of the year, as defending champion trainer Robert Pierce made the move to Canada, leaving the Blue Diamond operation in search of a new handler.
At that stage champion jockey Ward jumped into the hot seat and took the baton, making the switch from jockey to trainer.
The first season could hardly be more complicated, as it took some time for the adjustments to take effect.
All the while, Show Me The Money shouldered the burden of keeping money flowing into the yard.
He had two major wins: the Patrick Husbands Handicap for horses rated 83 to 105 over 1 800 metres, and the Barbados Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Guardian General Stakes & Trophy over 2 000 metres for horses rated 0 to 120.
Stable jockey
Not entirely happy with the way the first season ended, Taylor went back to the drawing board and added young apprentice Samuel to his payroll as stable jockey.
It would prove a good move, as the relatively inexperienced pair of trainer Ward and jockey Samuel kept the boss fit with regular trips to the winners’ enclosure.
Blue Diamond accumulated nearly three times as many winners from almost the same number of starters and doubled earnings in the second season, winning 15 races from 69 starters and earning $160 762 for year-to-date earnings of $315 759.
Taylor’s operation was now running like a well-oiled machine, winning two races on a card twice, three once, and four races on September 4 with Rush Cutter, Istanbul, Peaceful Envoy and Don Portalsonny.
He was able to withstand mounting pressure from Melrose and Clifton Racing, which closed the gap to within $30 731 as it made a clean sweep of the classics.
Entering the third and final season, Taylor, although leading in wins, still had a fight on his hands to land the championship as the gap was not insurmountable.
Testing conditions after Tropical Storm Tomas, which threatened to curtail racing after damaging part of the Barbados Turf Club, left the title race precariously perched.
Youngsters
With Ward conceding defeat in the overall trainers’ championship early in the final season to leaders Naz Issa and Andrew Nunes, Taylor was not to be outdone.
With the two-year-old classics taking centre stage towards the end of the season, Taylor was able to ride home with a lovely bunch of youngsters which would put the title beyond doubt.
He took the first and second Diamonds International / Mont Blanc Star Walker Greats Stakes & Trophy 1 000 metres with Must Be The Money, and the 1 100-metre event for colts and geldings with Istanbul.
Taylor did not enjoy the same success in the fillies’ races, but he nonetheless capped the year off by winning the Diamonds International over 1 570 metres, with Istanbul.
He won 12 races from 42 starters in the final season, striking 28.5 per cent and earning $262 787.
Taylor had two triples, and closed out the year with another four-timer, this time scoring with his two-year-olds Vitality, Reprise, Istanbul and the imported Daga.
His final earnings of $578 546 with 33 winners from 199 starters kept him clear of his nearest rival Melrose and Clifton Racing in the end, which finished $280 802 adrift.
