The Sandy Lane Gold Cup, the most prestigious horse race in the southern Caribbean, runs off at the Garrison Savannah on Saturday. In the lead-up to the big race, horse racing writer Lindon Yarde begins a series of profiles on the horses.
Owner: Sir David Seale
Trainer: Saffie Joseph
Distance attempts: 1
Won: None
Racing magnate Sir David Seale is clearly intent on having a say in the outcome of the 2019 Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup.
He recently acquired Night Prowler, an American bred seven-year-old gelding, son of Giant Causeway out of Mary’s Follies by More Than Ready.
Night Prowler has two victories at a mile and a 16th; at Keenland Park in April, 2015 he won the Transylvania Stakes in a time of 1:44.03, and the Diana Beach Stakes in October, 2016 at Belmont Park in an allowance claiming race in 1:40.03.
His other successes came over seven furlongs in October, 2014 at Belmont Park and a seven-and-a-half-furlong race in January, 2015 at Gulfstream Park.
He has also finished second, four times, and third, twice over the mile distance, and two seconds at a mile and a sixteenth places along with a third.
He can be backed to go the distance given his experience at this level and the quality of his opponents.
However, the drawback is that in his only attempt at 1 800 metres, he finished a disappointing fifth in the grade three Knickerbocker Stakes which was run at Belmont Park in August, 2018.
Owner, Sir David and, trainer, Saffie Joseph have attempted this route before, they finished third in 2014 with Dashing David, which was also imported from the United States.
Sir David is the most successful Gold Cup owner, capturing the prestigious event on seven occasions with Bentom, 1986, Sandford Prince, 1989, 1991 and 1992, Chou Chou Royale 1993, Dancin David, 2012 and Aristodemus,2013.
Night Prowler, who will be looking to add to the Hopefield Stable stranglehold in this marquee event, is expected to return to Gulfstream Park after the race. (LY)
