The stars and stripes could be draped all over the Garrison Savannah next month.
Once all goes well, the 2014 Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup – the 33rd edition – will have some American flavour as racing tycoons Kenneth L. and Sarah Ramsey, winners of the 2004 Eclipse Award for outstanding owners, are among three owners who have paid a penalty at the second and final subscription stage.
Major Marvel will represent the United States, while the other two are Trinidad and Tobago’s Nominee, owned by Antonio Navarro, and local horse Daga from Blue Diamond Racing.
Those three horses are among ten others that were nominated at the offices of the Barbados Turf Club when the February 7 subscription date and time had passed.
The Ramseys’ claim to fame in the sport of kings stems from Kitten’s Joy, winner of the 2004 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Male Turf horse, and Roses In May, who was second in the 2004 Breeders Cup Classic.
Major Marvel is an eight-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Bernstein out of Ms Isadorable and has won 22 races from 53 starts, earning US$698 328. This includes winning eight of nine starts in 2013.
This turf specialist, conditioned by Michael Maker, is well travelled, having campaigned at such tracks as Prax Racing, Louisiana Downs, Church Hill Downs, Saratoga, Belmont and Gulfstream Park.
Early in his career he won the West Virginia House Of Delegates Speakers Cup Stakes at Mountaineer race track.
His two stakes victories last year came at Louisiana Downs where he captured the Unbridled Stakes and at Gulfstream Park where he won the US$125 000 Starters Stakes over one mile and a sixteenth.
Nominee is an American-bred five-year-old chestnut stayer by Awesome Again out of La Porta. The Kenneth DaSilva trainee won the Grade I Champagne Stakes on the turf over 1 600 metres at Santa Rosa Park. He was also second in the Independence Cup over 1 800 metres and third in the 2 000 metre Republic Bank Gold Cup.
Daga has rightfully taken her place in this prestigious event. She finished second in last year’s race and her connections will be looking for her to go one better this time around.
The other ten nominated are defending Gold Cup champion Aristodemus, three Derby winners, Areutalkintome, 2009; Kendal Moon, 2011; Knight Rider, 2013; Shared Adventure, winner of last year’s Spa Sprint Stakes; 2014 Coolmore Home Of Champions Stakes winner Jakesam, Dashing David, Discretwon and Indian Officer.
