Racing fans who attended the Garrison Savannah last Saturday – BTBA race day – would have witnessed a farewell display from wonder boy Jalon Samuel.
Samuel, who rode four winners, is set to leave this week for the United States where he will rub shoulders with other jockeys at the Calder Race Course, Florida’s biggest and most lucrative track.
It will not be his first time riding in this market as in March 2012, eight days after winning Barbados’ most prestigious race, the Sandy Lane Gold Cup, with Dancin David, he piloted another Sir David Seale-owned horse, Town of Towns, to victory for Barbadian trainer Saffie Joseph Jnr. at Gulfstream Park.
Joseph, who is Samuel’s longtime friend as well as trainer, will be his main contact as he starts out on this new journey.
Samuel will seek to emulate the plethora of talented reinsmen produced in Barbados who have taken the world by storm.
Some of those who have represented this country and have done themselves proud include Patrick Husbands, several times repeat champion rider at Woodbine race track; Quincy Welch, many times champion rider at Northland Park; Chris Griffith, former champion at Forte Erie, the now retired Jonathon Jones, Slade Callaghan, Sean Hall and Ricky Griffith, now a trainer at Woodbine.
Those are huge boots to fill, but Samuel, whose arrival will coincide with the 65-day Tropical Meet which officially got started last Saturday, has a very impressive resume in less than five years in the steels, from his first win on November 8, 2008 astride the Clevill Barnett and John Gardiner-owned filly Kanon to his 100th astride the Daniel and Martin Raizman colt Discreetwon.
Samuel has celebrated successes in 2012 in the Sandy Lane Spa Sprint with Joseph Brothers-owned Areyoutalkintome over 1 100 metres, the Barbados Guineas with Melrose Stable’s filly Amanyara, in 2011 he won the Ocala Breeders Sales Company Stakes and Trophy with the Blue Diamond Stables’ filly Daga and repeated that success in 2012 with the M&M-owned colt Shared Adventure, both races over 1 570 metres.
He also distinguished himself in other races piloting Blue Diamond Stables’ mare Bouncebak to victories in the 2011 Coolmore Home Of Champions Stakes and Trophy and the Tanglewood Stakes and Trophy over 1 800 and 2 000 metres, respectively.
He also skillfully guided X and X Inc’s filly Summer Time to a win in the Barbados Midsummer Creole Classic over 1 800 metres.
Amidst all that, Samuel was crowned champion apprentice and jockey in 2010, a testimony to his exceptional talent.
The September-born Samuel has also ridden in Martinique, Britain at Windsor Race Course and in Trinidad and Tobago where his career really took shape under the watchful eyes of owner Mr Tocoman.
His expertise at such a young age will be missed at the Garrison Savannah but we wish him only the best.
