At the end of an exciting day of racing at the Garrison Savannah yesterday, it was clear that only one horse – Slip Stream – can win this year’s Barbados triple crown.
Confidently ridden by jockey Chris Husbands, Slip Stream electrified the track with a spectacular performance, moving her career record to six wins from nine starts as she took the 61st Barbados Guineas for West Indian-bred three-year-olds allotted weights over 1 570 metres.
Going off at the handsome odds of 14-1, she proved doubters wrong by making every yard in the pattern event. The Sir Charles Williams filly broke quickly, exiting the gate to lead the field first time around.Having raced as many as ten lengths clear in fractions of 23.2, 47 and 1:12.4, Slip Stream brought the chasers led by Vitality, Must Be The Money, Kendal Moon and odds-on favourite Istanbul under pressure early in the piece.
Slip Stream, still nursing a four-length lead, brought the field into the homestretch with the others making little impression.
This allowed jockey Husbands to look over his left shoulder where he saw no serious challengers. He then proceeded to switch the engine off, allowing the speedy filly to coast to the winning line and stop the clock at 1:36.
Island Memories, under Jason Leacock, continued his consistent form, finishing second.The run of this race came from Sweet Bottom Suzy, ridden by Reshawn Latchman. She found herself way off the pace and worked her way through traffic to snatch third.
Bouncebak had a hard-fought victory in the Coo Bird Handicap for three-year-old andolder horses rated 118-140 that was also open to three-year-old and older horses rated 117 and below over 1 570 metres.
Nicely settled by jockey Jalon Samuel behind the leader Who’s To Say, she was produced at the two-furlong pole when stablemate Purr Class issued a challenge.
The Lord Michael Taylor duo put away Who’s To Say coming into the straight. Bouncebak then held on for the win from fast-finishing Ring Time under Jonathon Grant. Racing takes a three-week break and will resume on May 14.
