Not since 1995 have race fans witnessed a 2 200 metres race at the Garrison Savannah. It happens today on the Mohommed S. Mohamad 45th Birthday Race Day in race seven – the Saleh and Khatija Mohamad Memorial Stakes and Trophy Condition Race.
Some of the island’s top stayers will star in what promises to be a riveting spectacle.
Blue Diamond Racing’s Daga, after snatching this year’s Coolmore “Home Of Champions” Stakes and Trophy over 1 800 metres, ran an encouraging race to finish second in this year’s Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup behind Aristodemus.
She has slowly worked her way back to being near her best form. Having been freshened up, she is the one they will all have to beat.
Aston Martin did the business on Gold Cup day, impressively taking the 2 000 metres Tanglewood Stakes and Trophy. He then ran into a baptism of fire from speed sensation Shared Adventure and the pace proved too hot.
Everything here is much more to his liking; the lack of speed, the extra distance and the light weight.
Zoom, the 2011 Gold Cup winner and winner of the Tanglewood in 2006, has the most impressive record over 2 000 metres.
Having failed to beat Aston Martin when giving him four pounds in this year’s Tanglewood, it’s hard to see him do so on this occasion, now having to hand Aston Martin ten pounds.
Kendal Moon has failed to beat Zoom or win a race since she last gracefully took the 2012 edition of the Tanglewood. Her best effort since has been a third place finish in last year’s Breeders’ Classic behind Apostle and Show Me The Money.
Graeme Hill’s last success came in the 2012 Coolmore after which he suffered an injury which sidelined him for over five months. He is now very much on the comeback trail.
Whether his fitness is where it needs to be in order to win a race of this magnitude is doubtful, but it is believed that he will stay the trip.
Stablemate Giovedi went sour for a while and now seems to be on the way back. Once conditions are firm on the top and with this race devoid of speed, it is believed he could very well upset the whole apple cart, if clever riding tactics are applied, and considering that he defeated the top rated horses over 1 570 metres last year.
My Picks
Race 1: Whatadeal
Race 2: Vandross
Race 3: Shared Adventure
Race 4: Ben Ten
Race 5: Khartoum
Race 6: Memory Lane
Race 7: Daga
Race 8: Lune De Barachois
