Aristodemus stole the spotlight on the Barbados Turf Club’s Christmas Season Race Day at the Garrison Savannah yesterday.
The Sir David Seale-owned chestnut colt impressively slammed a field of 12 in the Season’s Greetings Handicap over 1 570 metres.
It was a performance reminiscent of stablemate Dancin David’s 2012 Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup triumph, as he romped home by 8 1/2 lengths in an impressive time of one minute 34.2 seconds.
Title-hunting jockey Anderson Trotman settled the son of Giant’s Causeway out of Ethyl Mae on the outside of the early pace setters in the event for three-year-old and older horses rated 80-100.
Stablemates Must Be The Money, Captain Sully and Run Alke Run all went for the lead from the gates.
They were followed by Meteorite, Aristodemus, Charge It, Lady Quill, Dance The Distance and Indanger. Once they passed the clubhouse turn, Must Be The Money and Captain Sully surprisingly threw in the towel, leaving Run Alke Run to take up the running.
Aristodemus simply cantered up to the leader with Lady Quill, Meteorite and Indanger in hot pursuit.
At the quarter pole Trotman asked Aristodemus for everything and in a few strides he had collared Run Alke Run. By midstretch, the issue was sealed, leaving the others to labour for the final three places.
Lady Quill, under Antonio Whitehall, ran another enterprising race to get up for second position.
Jonathan Grant pushed Indanger, taking the penny stamp of 110 pounds, into third, the horse’s most credible race in more than a year.
Indian Officer, partnered by Reshaun Latchman finished fourth to underline his improvement.
The major disappointment of the race came from Dance The Distance who trailed in at the back.
Yesterday’s results add more fuel to the fire for the Boxing Day’s Victor Chandler Stakes and Trophy as Aristodemus’ performance readily brings him into the equation.
Another impressive performance on the card came in race three – the Santa Claus Condition Race for West Indian-bred two-year-old colts and geldings over 1 100 metres
The Price Is Right easily defeated her six other rivals. Trained by Jonathan Simpson, the daughter of Federico out of Pricey Tickey, stormed away from the gates and her opponents to move her career record to four wins from five outings.
Flying South proved too much for his counterparts in Race four, the Santa Claus Condition Race for West Indian bred two-year old colts and geldings.
The son of Southern Glory out of Flying Antique broke smartly from the gates before picking up the running with half mile to go.
His competition of four first-time starters never caused the Stephen Bynoe-trained gelding to break a sweat as he recorded his second consecutive win from only his third start.
The stage is now set for the final race day of the year on Boxing Day.