Call it strike?Number One! Aston Martin was the hero at the Garrison Savannah yesterday.
On National Heroes Day the Mark Armstrong-owned colt stormed to a three-quarter length victory in the feature 62nd Barbados Guineas (Gr.1.R.-Bar) for West Indian-bred three-year-olds at allotted weights over 1 570 metres.
Surprisingly, the Victor Cheeseman-trained horse was settled close to the pace by jockey Anderson Trotman after starter Mark Batson sent the first jewel of the 2012 Barbados Triple Crown field on the way.
Run For Your Money led Finbar, Rickoshey, Capere, Aston Martin, Summer Time and Galaxy through the first two furlongs. Positions changed rapidly going towards the three-furlong marker, with Run For Your Money still leading before jockey Trotman asked his mount Aston Martin to take closer order.
Rickoshey, Finbar, Summer Time and Galaxy were all pushed along to keep up with the leaders. Run For Your Money got as far as the home turn with the lead, but he could no longer survive the onslaught of the race favourite.
Trotman asked his mount for a final effort and he responded in his customary way for the popular victory. Rickoshey, under Reshaun Latchman, saw out the race well to take second spot; Iamsogroovy, partnered by Paul Eddery, ran a game race to take third place while Galaxy, ridden by Antonio Bishop, finished fourth.
Champion jockey Trotman celebrated his birthday yesterday by booting home two other winners. First he started the day with the A-Team-owned Midnight Express, winning the Royal Mile Handicap Division-A for three-year-olds and older horses rated 20-45, and also open to horses rated 19 and below, over 1 100 metres.
Trotman next returned with the Sir David Seale colt Aristodemus to capture the Zarmella Handicap for non-West Indian-bred three-year-old and older maidens over 1 570 metres.
Not to be left out of the celebrations on the Barbados Guineas race day, the Joseph Brothers-owned Areutalkintome did justice to the saying “class is class” as he won a riveting stretch duel.
The horse trained by David Yearwood took the Street Vendor Handicap for three-year-olds and older horses rated 115-140, and also open to horses rated 114 and below, over 1 100 metres.
Confronted by a powerful four-pronged attack from the Blue Diamond Stable, Areutalkintome was given a peach of a ride by jockey Jalon Samuel, who had him tucked in nicely behind the early speedsters in Vitality, Run Alke Run and Purr Class.
Run Alke Run led the field into the homestretch but could feel the pressure from stable mate Purr Class and Areutalkintome that were breathing down his neck.
The duo went by him in a driving finish and the judges were called upon to determine the places.
After a brief deliberation – and to thunderous applause from the sizeable crowd – it became a repeat of the Sandy Lane Spa Sprint Stakes And Trophy result where Areutalkintome reigned supreme once more.
