Last year, Anderson Ward did to the trainers what he has done to jockeys for some time: head straight to the front and never look back.
Once the toast of the Garrison from the saddle, Ward became the fourth champion trainer in as many years.
Since gaining his trainer’s licence in March 2010, Ward has established himself among the best trainers in the land.
The handler of the Blue Diamond Stable ensures his charges are always immaculately turned out and looking the picture of health.
Year review: Statistics for the year shows that Ward, a 17 per cent winning trainer, sent out 190 runners with returns of 32-19-26-21 and earnings of $715 990.
Ward’s stellar year began with the capture of the Coolmore Home Of Champions Stakes & Trophy over 1 800 metres with the mare Bouncebak.
Next was the Guardian General Stakes and Trophy for three-year-olds over 1 570 metres with Istanbul.
Following was the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company Trophy over 1 570 metres with the imperious Daga, who won four of her five starts last year.
Ward’s other major triumphs were the T.A. Tommy Peirce Memorial Stakes & Trophy and the Victor Chandler Stakes & Trophy for the top rated horses 0-145 both races over 1 570 metres with Show Me The Money.
Apart from Daga his other famous runners were Captain Sully (4), Bouncebak (4), Istanbul and Vitality (3) all of whom kept the stable’s flag afloat.
Third season returns: In the just-concluded season, Ward sent out 41 runners and earned $151 570 from eight wins, five seconds, three thirds, and six fourth-place finishes.
Not even an outbreak of equine cough could stop his dominance.
Defending champion Andrew Nunes, also a 17 percentage winning trainer, was always trying to close the gap both by earnings and in wins.
In the end, he had to settle for second place with year statistics of 20-16-14-13 from 117 runners who earned $460 615.
Nunes’s main weapon was his three-year old filly Kendal Moon who recorded a hat-trick of major events: the Barbados Fillies Guineas (1 570m), Barbados Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Midsummer Creole Classic (1 800m) and the United Insurance Barbados Derby (2 000m).
Third season returns: Nunes took fourth spot in the third season with a 1-6-2-1 record from 23 runners who earned $80 335.
Edward Walcott Jnr, with a win percentage of 15, maintained his third place in the yearly standings.
His stocks earned $396 773, decorated by 16-14-8-7 from his 105 runners.
Zoom confirmed his status as Springhead’s best horse in training with four victories including in the Sandy Lane Gold Cup.
Third season returns: Walcott Jnr captured third position with statistics of 5-2-3-3 from 23 runners all earning $80 946.
Victor Cheeseman, with a win percentage of 12, had a memorable 2011. His charges continued to perform the very same high level as the second season, enabling him to capture the critical fourth spot. Cheeseman’s yearly statistics reveals earnings of $256 620, made up of 16-15-14-13 from 132 runners.
Third season returns: Cheeseman, with statistics of 5-4-3-8 from 31 runners and earnings of $108 173, continued his good form and finished second in that just concluded season.
