Honours were?evenly shared at the end of the Barbados Turf Club’s sixth day of the second racing season – The Big Tent Race Day – at the Garrison Savannah yesterday.
On a soft track, Lord Michael Taylor-owned Purr Class trotted away with the pattern event – the Lennox “Fox” Williams Trophy Handicap for three-year-old and older horses rated 115-140 and also opened to horses rated 114 and below over 1 100 metres.
The Anderson Ward-trained mare left the gate running, hounded by stablemate Vitality, Cavaichi, Run Alke Run, Slip Stream, Peaceful Envoy and Kingdora.
Once the field got to the two-furlong marker, it became a two-horse race as Purr Class and Cavaichi came out of the pack.
Only Kingdora managed to move up, but Purr Class ridden by Jamar Croney took the victory from Cavaichi under jockey Antonio Perch. Kingdora with Anderson Trotman in the saddle settled for third, and Vitality with jockey Jalon Samuel for fourth.
At the end of the day, trainer Richard Deane was all smiles as his charges accounted for three of the day’s eight races. They sprung into action in the fourth race when Christopher Gibbs-owned filly Leave A Message, partnered by Antonio Whitehall, won the Allan King Trophy Handicap for West Indian-bred three-year-old maidens over 1 570 metres.
Nothing on the day could have been more pleasing for Deane than witnessing rookie apprentice Anderson Clarke Jr winning his first race astride A Team-owned Just Jiving. Running mid-pack, young Clarke took the gelding off the rail at the three-furlong pole to challenge the early pacesetters.
Swinging for home with only Midnight Express and Spellbound ahead of him, he gradually wore down the pair, with Clarke Jr losing his stick in the process. Just Living simply went by the leaders for the comfortable victory.
Deane’s final success came via fellow trainer/amateur rider Victor Cheeseman, who with calm composure and precise timing guided nine-year-old gelding Stag Hunter to victory in the Colin Coppin Trophy Handicap for amateur riders over 1 000 metres.
After breaking slowly from the gate Cheeseman easily picked off rivals before taking aim at leaders Jazz Band and Jack Daniels. Cheeseman eventually cruised home using hands and heels only for a very popular victory, delighting race fans and jockeys who had ventured onto the roof to watch the race.
Kabir closed on the rail under Shawn Sargeant for second, while Jazz Band with Jarelle Blenman finished third. Jack Daniels and Daverson Griffith were back in fourth. Cheeseman was also in winner’s row in his regular role when Lewin Godding-owned Nekitta, partnered by Antonio Whitehall, won the The Mervin Harvey Trophy Condition Race for West Indian-bred two-year-olds over 1 000 metres.
He then closed out the day with his soft track specialist Zaltarr ridden by Renaldo Cumberbatch. Trainer Jonathon Simpson also recorded a double, landing with Bill Haley and the Comics’ filly Byhookorbycreek and Fernandina for the Round Table Stud Farm.