THE?FEATURE Victor Cheeseman Trophy Handicap on the penultimate day of the Barbados Turf Club’s first racing season at the Garrison Savannah today is almost too close to call.
At about 5:05 p.m., this 1 800 metre event for three-year-old and older horses rated 82-100 and also open to horses rated
81 and below at the time of entry could see Little Man Arran, Sirius Black, Captain Sully and Indian Officer battling it out for victory.
The Bill and Haley Blevins-owned Little Man Arran has rounded back into his best form of late despite finishing a credible fourth behind Shared Adventure, Daga and Lune De Barachois in the Shared Adventure Trophy Handicap over 1 570 metres. Little Man Arran is very much at home in this company where he has hardly ever set a foot wrong and should have a say in the final outcome.
Sirius Black was one of the more impressive horses from Cheeseman’s stable that enabled him to land the trainers’ title last year. He ran a superb race in last month’s $70 000 Tanglewood Stakes And Trophy on Gold Cup Day, securing second spot behind Kendal Moon, and is expected to give his connections another good performance.
Indian Officer finished at the rear of the field in the Gold Cup where he was simply outclassed but he will find this field much more user-friendly as he tries to rekindle his form. The apprentice claim should also work to his advantage.
Captain Sully is likely to be on the front end controlling the early fractions. His form has been heading in the right direction and a win is very likely but he will need to step up his game another notch to capture this event.
Indanger’s performance depends with the track conditions. After being a surprise winner, he next came an ordinary fourth with identical company on a track deemed too firm for his liking. Even though winning doesn’t seem his best option, he is still a worthy competitor.
Janak Gold’s sublime form was put to the test when he encountered fierce opposition in the Tanglewood Stakes and this bunch also appears beyond his capabilities at this stage.
Island Memories has been in reasonably good form and he will definitely be at home at today’s distance. However, there is a question mark about his class or lack thereof in this company. Should the firm existing conditions prevail, it will certainly hinder his chances of pulling off the unlikely victory.
Graeme Hill has done absolutely nothing positive since having a foot operation, consistently lagging at the rear of the field and a top-four finish would please his connections.Â
My Picks: Race 1: Soca Diva, Race 2: Kamazetta, Race 3: Sugar Loaf Peak, Race 4: Rahy Promise, Race 5: Devil’s Khandy, Race 6: Alina, Race 7: Indian Officer, Race 8: Tapits Code
