In?reviewing?the 32nd running of the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup Saturday at the Garrison Savannah, the wonderful contribution and achievement of this year’s successful trainer Liz Deane should be acknowledged.
With maybe no more than ten horses under her care, on the race track she goes unnoticed for most race days, but she has gotten into the habit of hitting very big winners.
Certain trainers win big races and when it comes to Gold Cups in Barbados in the last decade, Deane has been outstanding, finishing first and second twice and, this year, first and fourth.
The first such success is usually special but last Saturday’s truimph with Aristodemus was not only fabulous but testimony to her hard work and dedication.
To get these horses ready in four months was phenomenal, as up to mid-November, Aristodemus was still babying around the track in his workout and races and if that was not enough, Deane’s tolerance level was further tested as she also had to skilfully chart Dancin David’s recovery from a serious foot injury and get him ready to defend his Gold Cup title.
She faced complications such as not knowing if Aristodemus would do as she instructed his rider coupled with not going overboard on Dancin David’s workload as time drew near.
An indication of Aristodemus’ temperament is shown by an instance two weeks prior to the big race when he was scheduled for a three-furlong morning workout but instead went around the track four times and ending up still not doing the workout.
Deane and her Hopefield entourage reaped the sweets of their labour and perseverance just after 5 p.m. last Saturday as Aristodemus came home first.
His performance was good without being spectacular. He moved from sixth on the outside to the lead entering the home stretch where he got only two taps of the whip en route to his victory. Â
There is the belief that if and when he settles and stays fit, race fans will see something very special.
Daga ran a good race from mid-pack. His jockey made his move with Aristodemus but found himself pocketed behind the pacesetters and had to concede first run to the winner before being switched out.
Meteorite broke sharply and stalked the leader. He challenged for the lead briefly at the quarter pole, before hanging on tenaciously for a commendable third place.
Dancin David struggled early at the back, saving ground along the rail until he gradually improved to take fourth position.
Erados, a back marker throughout, ran by tired horses to take fifth. Kendal Moon struggled to go the pace and barely caught sixth, while Discreetwon raced along the rails mid-pack and made little impression before fading.
Show Me The Money was slow from the gates and sparred for the lead at the quarter pole only to fade entering the home turn.
Graeme Hill was always a back marker, while Apostle, after predictably leading, quickly weakened as the younger guns got rolling. Just Call Me Roger travelled keenly on the outside early but ran out of steam at the three-furlong mark to finish last. Giovedi was a late non-starter.
