Rank outsider Lavani upset the form books and stunned favourite Noble Intent in yesterday’s Grade II Breeders Stakes and Trophy over 1 570 metres for Barbados-bred three-year-olds at the Garrison Savannah.
Sent off at the huge odds of 37-1, the CAH Racing filly, brilliantly ridden by Antonio Whitehall, teamed up with the second favourite In the Pink to return a hefty forecast total of $1 873.50.
That effort by Whitehall landed him the Bubba’s Sunday Buffet Breakfast Ride Of The Day.
Noble Intent wasted little time in going straight for the lead when the gates opened, and he was followed in the early stages by Lavani, Katara, John Vere, In The Pink, Conway and Kamazeta.
Noble Intent cruised to the half mile in a pleasant 48.2/5 seconds, and it was at this stage that the most dynamic moment on the Barbados Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Race day card evolved.
Jockey Whitehall surprisingly asked Lavani to pick up the running, and in the blink of an eye she shot four lengths clear of Noble Intent, taking a stranglehold of the race.
That move seemed to catch Noble Intent rider Antonio Bishop by surprise.
With three quarters of the race run in a swift 1 minute, 12 seconds, and no apparent urgency from Bishop on the favourite, jockey Reshawn Latchman could be seen all over his charge In The Pink in desperation mode, having earlier positioned her towards the back.
Lavani sailed into the home stretch fully extended with a two and a half lengths advantage. Noble Intent had gradually closed the gap, while In the Pink had joined him to take aim at the leader, but collectively they could not make up the distance.
The half mile move by Lavani would prove very decisive as she found the winning line when it really mattered to secure the victory.
Trainer Boston John will likely gain plaudits for being able to get her reverse her last horrible run, losing by 30-plus lengths.
In The Pink eventually got the better of Noble Intent to salvage the second position.
Noble Intent’s performance, though capturing the third spot, will come in for some serious scrutiny. Kamazetta came from the back of the pack under Anderson Trotman to take fourth.
Journeyman Rickey Walcott made sure that there would be no such hiccups in the supporting feature, the Saleh and Khatija Mohamad Memorial Trophy Condition Race over 2 200 metres for four-year-olds and older.
Walcott displayed impeccable judgement as he skilfully and tactically manoeuvred home the D. Bynoe, S. Walcott and M. Corbin-owned Sirius Black.
The pair broke on top at the start but Walcott relaxed the gelding inside the first half mile relegating him to one before last turning into the home stretch the first time around. Several horses galloped themselves into the ground early on, including Daga, Little Man Arran, Indanger and Horizon.
Two furlongs from the wire Walcott decided enough was enough and smoothly went by the early contenders wide on the outside enroute to his success. Walcott eased the Victor Cheeseman-trained horse to the finish and was still able to set a new track record for the trip which now stands at 2 minutes, 21.2 seconds.