Bouncebak continued her dominant form with a hard-fought victory over stablemate Kingdora in the feature BTC Board Of Directors Handicap for three-year-old and older horses rated 118-140 and open to horses rated 117 and below, over 1 570 metres.
On another beautiful afternoon at the Garrison Savannah yesterday the Lord Michael Taylor-owned and Anderson Ward trained seven-year-old mare Bouncebak, while travelling sweetly, exerted maximum pressure on her opponents right from the start.
Brilliantly ridden by fiery hot Jalon Samuel, she had to fight off challenges on either side before getting the job done, eventually stopping the clock at 1:37.2.
Who’s To Say contested a pressured lead most of the trip, but would soon cave in to the pressure of his stalker Bouncebak. The others led by Rocamadour, Bipin, Ring Time, and Kindora stayed close.
Rocamadour and Who’s To Say threw in the towel turning for home. It was then left to Bouncebak to survive the vicious assault from Kingdora on the rails and Ring Time on the outside both of whom took the penny stamp of 108 pounds.
That fighting effort got her the victory by a head from Kindora under jockey Ron Ali. Ring Time partnered by Jonathon Grant was a gallant third with Rocamadour and jockey Paul Leacock back in fourth.
You could say it was business as usual at the office for Samuel as he shared the winning honours with apprentice Antonio Bishop, both winning three races each.
Samuel started the ball rolling by winning division A and B of the BTC Registered Grooms for West Indian-bred three-year-old maidens (allotted weights) over 1 570 metres.
He was astride Angela Simpson-owned Whatadeal for trainer Jonathon Simpson in the first race and returned in Race 2 with Fiona Kinch-owned Fernandina for trainer Roger Parravicino as the pair wired the field by 12 ½ lengths.
The next three races would go to jockey Antonio Bishop. He powered the Gay Smith pair of Super Dancer and Glistening to impressive victories for trainer Edward Walcott Jr, who was the day’s most successful trainer.
Super Dancer took the Barbados Horseracing Owners and Trainers Handicap for three-year-old and older horses rated 30-55 and open to horses rated 29 and below over 1 100 metres.
Glistening lost her maiden tag in the Barbados Jockey Guild Handicap for four-year-old and older maidens over 1 100 metres.
Bishop’s final win would come on 12-1 long shot Fuh Real who took the BTC Member Handicap for three-year-old and older horses rated 43-65 and open to horses rated 42 and below over 1 570 metres for her owners Calvin Kellman and Colin Browne with the latter as the trainer.
Title-chasing jockey Anderson Trotman, although losing some ground to leading jockey Samuel, kept within striking distance with a double win yesterday.
He piloted the Pamuel Isdell and Lady Buchanan-owner Sumer Star to an easy win for trainer Andrew Nunes in the BTC Fans handicap for four-year-old and older horses rated 13-35 and open to horses rated 12 and below over 1 570 metres.
He then closed the afternoon with a workman-like victory on the Senator G. Cave and S. Bynoe-owned-and-trained No Spin Zone.
It brought the curtain down on a fantastic day of racing. Â
The season continues on June 11.
