Meteorite is the standout in the main event on tomorrow’s 10th and penultimate day of the Barbados Turf Club’s second season at the Garrison Savannah.
The Barbados Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Breeders Sales Race Day starts at 1:30 p.m. with the headliner being the sixth race, the Sale Graduates’ Champion Stakes (weight for age) over 1 570 metres for Barbados-bred three, four and five year-olds.
The Gay Smith-owned Meteorite, which is shouldering the joint top weight of 128 pounds, is still basking from fine performances in the Coolmore “Home Of Champions” Stakes and Trophy and the Gold Cup and should figure prominently.
Vitality, also carrying top weight, has to be respected despite drawing the outside post position.
Cinnamon Jane continued her vast improvement with a smooth win in the BTC Members Handicap last race day from horses rated 80-100 and she can once again make her presence felt.
Some of the best three-year-olds will also be testing their skills. Among them are Vanity Affair and The Price Is Right, both pencilled to take 117 pounds.
The consistent Lune De Barachois and Lady Quill, who will both shoulder 123 pounds, are capable of causing an upset.
Fans will find the Sale Graduates’ Vase Handicap for Barbados-bred three-year-old and older horses rated 60-80 and also open to horses rated 59 and below going a route of 1 800 metres, equally as intriguing.
Neville Isdell’s Roars has the top impost of 130 pounds and will be giving away weights ranging from two to 18 pounds to his opponents.
High Tide and Cabin Boy, second and fourth respectively in the Derby, will each carry 119 pounds and are in with some chance.
Respect should also be given to 2012 Derby heroine Bandera Belle. She is yet to re-enter the winner’s enclosure after that success but she can rectify that here with 125 pounds.
The form of Zaltarr cannot be ignored, having reeled off a hat-trick of wins. He will, however, find his more youthful competitors more competitive. There is also a question mark of him staying the trip in this company which is much tougher than what he has pounced on recently.
The first of the Sale-Graduates to be run off is Race 3, the Futurity Stakes Condition event, which will see three Barbados-bred two-year-old winners clashing over 1 100 metres.
Topping the weight scale is the Blue Diamond Racing gelding Conway with 121 pounds. His manner of victory last time out was very pleasing and a repeat effort looks a real possibility.
Kariba Rose drew first blood among these juveniles and was immediately put back into the cotton wool. A gender allowance sees her getting a five-pound preference at the scale, therefore her allotment of 116 pounds could even make it harder for the others to catch her.
Princess Di, which is also down to carry the 116 pounds, is the third winner, who lost her next effort and she will need to show more.
