Another great day of racing will be in store when day seven gets going at the Garrison Savannah later today. The 1 800 metres Garrison Savannah Handicap is the 4:50 p.m. feature and this promises to be a competitive event.
Last year’s Derby winner Butterfly, owned by Gay Smith and trained by Edward Walcott, will surely be favoured to take this event, race seven on the eight-race programme. In order to take this feature the four-year-old filly will have to overcome five others on what is expected to be a very fast track.
Her form has been excellent, with a third-place finish to Northern Star on Gold Cup day counting as a very good performance. Butterfly, who last time out finished ahead of Zip Code and Donicodidit, should get her strongest challenge from Gold Cup runner Won Grand.
Two of Won Grand’s three victories have come at today’s trip, and despite her last two efforts resulting in unplaced returns, she is expected to give a much better account in this company.
Attention should be given to the top-rated Refire. Drawn on the outside, he is in good form. Of major concern, though, is his weight of 131 pounds. This is surely going to be a tough ask. Zip Code is a very consistent horse and must not be discarded, while the others in Donicodidit and Arrowhead will need plenty things to go in their favour for either of them to hit the winners’ circle.
The card is dubbed Paying Tribute To The Heritage Of The Garrison Historic Area Race Day, and the first race is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. The atmosphere promises to be exciting, with plenty of action for one and all. Race number 4, the Pavilion Court Handicap over 1 100 metres, is sure to typify that action-packed atmosphere.
Here, the best speedsters rated 55-37 and lower do battle. Howulikedisname looks the one to beat, having registered win number six when easily defeating today’s opponents Sebastian, Preacher Boy and Sebcoe. Yours truly expects Sebcoe to reverse that form although it might not be that easy.
Much interest here will surround crack juvenile Quality Star, who after beating his peers as a two-year-old, has found this game a tough one a year later. He has offered little competition for the likes of Jericho and Brave Star and must definitely win here, to restore confidence in her followers, especially with the first leg of the classics coming up next race day.
Race five, the George Washington House Conditions Race over 1 570 metres, is a selling race with a reserve of $10 000 on the winner, who will be auctioned following the race. The pick here must be Janak’s Gold. Ironically he won a similar race a couple years ago, and with the other six starters badly off at the same 130 pounds, victory looks assured.
The relatively green three-year-olds will have one final chance to impress before the Triple Crown legs begin. They line up in the day’s opener, Barbados Museum and Historical Society Condition Race over 1 570 metres. Here, Intethestorm and Too Much Bling, both of whom have had success this year, clash. (LY)
PREDICTIONS
Race 1: Too Much Bling
Race 2: The Awesome Fox
Race 3: Running For Joy
Race 4: Sebcoe
Race 5: Janak’s Gold
Race 6: Dynamite
Race 7: Butterfly
Race 8: Devil’s Khandy
