The?Barbados Turf Club’s will be staging a “Tribute To Emancipation Day” race programme at the Garrison Savannah today.
The programme, the seventh of the BTC’s second racing season, will feature eight races from 1:45 p.m.
The Emancipation Day Handicap will take centre stage but there are several races which will command a great deal of respect. Among those is Race 6, the Season Of Emancipation Handicap for three-year-old and older horses rated 45-70 and also open to horses rated 44 and below, going over 1 100 metres.
Between The Sheiks takes 133 pounds, Byhookorbycreek carries 130 pounds; Domineering shoulders 130 pounds, Glistening is down to carry 118 pounds, Justanotheropinion is penciled in at 118 pounds and Boo takes along 115 pounds. These horses have all been in good form.
Most of the leading contenders have managed victories in recent times at this distance where Justanotheropinion won the People’s Market Trophy Handicap Division-B for horses rated 33-55 over 1 570 metres. This race has all the makings of a show-stopper.
West Indian-bred two-year-old maidens will once again have their say in the opening event.
Trainer Victor Cheesman has won both two-year-old races thus far and has three of his charges entered in this event. On this occasion they should find the John Chandler-owned and trained Sweet Bottom Sarah a tough nut to crack after her maiden run, where she finished a respectable third.
Khartoum, racing for Cheeseman, finished behind Sweet Bottom Sarah on that occasion and could find himself repeating that performance.
One first-time starter who will command much interest in this race will be the Lady Seale-owned filly Woman Is Boss who is a full sister to 2009 Triple Crown Winner Areyoutalkintome and will race under the tutelage of trainer Challenor Jones.
The Right Excellent Bussa Handicap goes over 2 000 metres. Although attracting a small field of eight runners, finding the winner might prove somewhat of a headache.
Local Speed and Proud Bajan will both shoulder the top weight of 130 pounds in this race for three-year-olds and older horses rated 38-60 and also open to horses rated 37 and below.
Ironically, Local Speed’s last success came on November 5 2011 over this distance. His form since then has been somewhat inconsistent.
Proud Bajan’s early year form seems to have left him as he has only managed a second-placed finish on soft conditions from his next four efforts. While the weight may prove his undoing, his stamina could very well make him a potential winner.
Just Jiving, which is down to carry 121 pounds, took full advantage of the soft conditions that prevailed last outing to shock racing fans, going 1 100 metres at the handsome odds of 28-1. There certainly can be no doubt about his stamina and he can hold his own in this company.
Steppin Razor, handicapped with 126 pounds, has run into a purple patch of form and should not be left out of the equation.
