Nekitta, who?failed in her quest to win the Triple Crown, will lead a field of three local horses taking part in the Santa Rosa Park race meet in Trinidad, where she will aim to become the first horse from Barbados to win the Trinidad Derby.
The Lewin Godding-owned filly swept the Barbados Guineas and Midsummer Creole Classic but fell short in the United Insurance Barbados Derby.
Joining her on the voyage will be stablemate Modimo and the Victor Cheeseman-trained Khartoum.
Nekitta is among 32 horses nominated for the Trinidad Derby Stakes, a grade I event for West Indian-bred three-year-olds over 2 000 metres on the main track.
Of those entered for the TT$500 000 (BDS$155 523) purse, 14 were bred in Jamaica.
Nekitta, the daughter of Feet On Flames out of Black Bird and Modimo, will be handled on arrival by Trinidad-based trainer Emmanuel Miller. Both horses are expected to be in action on August 31.
For Nekitta, her race will be used as a preparatory run for the Derby while Modimo, who is yet to have success since arriving in Barbados, is among 20 horses nominated for the TT$200 000 ($62 209) purse Grade I Independence Cup to be run over 1 800 metres on the turf.
He has been showing signs of going in the right direction with a second behind Gold Cup winner Aristodemus followed by a fourth place behind Meteorite who finished third in the same Gold Cup.Â
The real challenge ahead for this trio are the travelling, then acclimatizing and adapting to the different conditions. These include racing anti-clockwise and in Nekitta’s case, competing on the sand, which will be a test of character and ability.
Khartoum will now race under new partners, that of previous owner Philip Moseley who has been joined by Mark Goodridge. Goodridge’s charges in Trinidad – Quick City and Intact, have been performing very well on the Arima course.
While the other two horses are expected back home, Khartoum will be staying in Trinidad to race for his new owners.
The trio, who will leave the country tomorrow, have been seen at the Garrison Savannah since the last race day working anti-clockwise in order to prepare themselves for the upcoming races.
After arriving in Trinidad, they are expected to be in quarantine for a period of four to seven days.
