THE GARRISON SAVANNAH is the perfect place to be today, Christmas bank holiday, as the Barbados Turf Club’s calendar year will close out in spectacular fashion.
The island’s best horses will clash in the feature Diamonds International/Crown Of Light Boxing Day Stakes & Trophy for the top-rated 140-122 horses and those rated 121 and below over 1 570 metres.
Although lacking in numbers, this race has all the ingredients necessary for a top-class event – speed, class and quality that should culminate in a thrilling finish.
One could not ask for a better way to cap off a good year for the sport of kings as these equines finally meet on a level playing field and several questions will be answered.
The biggest of all is, is Just A Fashion the best horse in the country? Does Shared Adventure still have what it takes to turn around his sub-par form and return to his best?
Lethal combination
Can Giovedi again flog Just A Fashion and Shared Adventure now on the existing terms? And who is the better of the Hopefield Stable pair of Marcus Antonius and Daunting David?
Aysha Syndicate’s Just A Fashion has just about mauled everything trainer Richard Deane has fed him. His relentless speed has been extremely potent to his opposition and with top marksman Jalon Samuel in the irons, it’s a lethal combination.
Shared Adventure’s class can’t be questioned and his worrying form is mitigated now that he meets his conquerors at even weights, making him the real deal.
Giovedi is back from a well-deserved rest but confronted with this huge assignment, it will be a big accomplishment should he pull it off.
The others all look likely to make it extremely competitive for the minor ends of the purse despite their connection looking to cause an upset. Knight Rider is the defending champion. His next best effort since that win came via an upgrade from the steward’s room so he will have to dig deeper.
Off-track
Marcus Antonius, after improving his game, has seen his development plan swerve slightly off track with a few below-par efforts. Stable go-to rider Anderson Trotman has chosen him over his stablemate.
Daunting David will need to do better than his last win as this field is vastly experienced. A huge plus in his corner is that he will be ridden by top Irish jockey Tom Queally, who can certainly compensate in the saddle for any lack of class at this stage in the colt’s career.
Vitality has performed average since easily taking this year’s Sandy Lane Spa Sprint Stakes over 1 100 metres. He is in for a rude awakening as the race is expected to be frenetic upfront and will require some change of gears that he lacks.
My Picks
Race 1: She’s Even Blue
Race 2: Something Happenin
Race 3: Storm Cat Glory
Race 4: Halle Rose
Race 5: Hercules
Race 6: Cinnamon Jane
Race 7: Shared Adventure
Race 8: Local Speed
Race 9: Jamaica Moon
Race 10: Western Wild Cat
