Latchman off for Gulfstream Park ride

Jockey Reshawn Latchman is having a dream start to the Barbados Turf Club’s 2014 racing season leading the table with 13 wins after four days.
The champion rider of 2012 has been in tremendous form, leaving his peers in the jocks room wondering what has bought about this new lease on his career.
Well, if it’s a dream it can only get better as the easy-going athlete will leave Barbados today to ride on American soil for the first time.
This window of opportunity has been afforded to him by one of racing’s powerhouses – Hopefield Stable.
The highlight of Latchman’s trip will be to fashion a partnership with one of Hopefield’s hopefuls in next month’s Gold Cup, Dashing David – who will compete at Gulfstream Park in Florida on Saturday.
The son of Lemon Drop Kid out of Nyarhini will be having his first start in the United States of America since travelling from Britain last year where he won three races in 13 career starts under trainer Richard Hannon Sr.
Now under the careful guidance of American based Barbadian trainer Saffie Joseph’s Jr, the colt will be going 11.5 furlongs on the turf as a part of his preparation for the 33rd running of the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup scheduled to take place on March 8.
Latchman will get his feet wet immediately on arrival as he will partner another Joseph trained horse Royal Gallant in the first race on the Friday afternoon’s card, a US$12 500 maiden claiming event over six furlongs on the dirt.
The four-year-old gelding, who will race from box four for this assignment, is owned by Thoroughbred Acquisition Group.
Latchman, though young in his career, has been developing his skills with stints at Woodbine Race Track in Canada and at the Hippodrome De Carrere in Martinique, among others.
Latchman is the second young champion jockey to benefit from the most successful owners in the history of the Gold Cup, Hopefield Stable, which has seven cups displayed on their mantel.
Few years ago, immediately after winning the 2012 Gold Cup with Dancing David, 2010 champion jockey Jalon Samuel was rewarded with an identical opportunity.
It proved a successful move for the entire entourage as Samuel piloted home Town of Towns in fine fashion for owner Sir David Seale.
The stable will also be represented by defending champion Aristodemus. Latchman’s golden season started with a quintet of wins on the first day of the current first season where he piloted home Margarita, Janak’s Gold, Pyroman, Whatadeal and Sugar Loaf Peak.
Day 2 was no letting up as he visited winner’s enclosure again astride Sugar Loaf Peak, Janak’s Gold and Iamsogroovy.
He slackened the reins on the third day, settling for a double strike with Trinidad Dreamer and Foxy Browne. The Valentine’s Day card provided him with a treble, Sarava Point, Janak’s Gold and Lune De Barachois.