REVERED?CHAMPION?trainer the late Bill Marshall is being honoured in a special way this Saturday at the Garrison Savannah.
That’s because the second race day of the Barbados Turf Club’s third racing season will bear the tag W.C. “Bill” Marshall DFC SCM Memorial Race Day.
William “Bill” Marshall, an 11-time champion trainer, has won every major race in the country and so the ten-race action packed card which has attracted 106 entrants will see nine of the races named after horses handled by the World War II veteran.
The feature race is the W.C. “Bill” Marshall DFC SCM Memorial two-year-old Creole Classic Stakes & Trophy (GR-1) over 1 570 metres which will see eight horses competing for a purse of $46 150.
Conway and Corvette, two victorious colts, will square off against the lone winning filly, Princess Di. This trio will, however, have to contend with the speed of Dancing Lady and the very consistent In The Pink.
Colts will take 123 pounds while fillies will shoulder 118.
Race 4, the Thady Quill Handicap for three-year-old and older horses rated 15-35, and Race 5, the Tinkers Image Handicap for three-year-old and older maidens, have attracted the largest number of entries and therefore have been split into two groups. Both races will run at 1 570 metres with Division B to be completed as races nine and ten.
The Coo Bird Handicap for three-year-old and older horses rated 120-140 over 1 800 metres, is named after the 1998 Derby winner, who became a household name in Barbados.
Competing here are 2013 Gold Cup runner-up Daga with the top weight of 130 pounds; 2011 Derby winner Kendal Moon with 126 pounds, and Discretwon, who recorded a smart win on the first day of the ongoing season, with 126.
The Blast Of Storm Handicap for West Indian-bred three-year-olds over 1 100 metres will again be one of sheer speed as the most rapidly improved filly on the track Seattle Sunshine will be hoping to return to her winning habits.
The race is named after Blast of Storm, winner of the Gold Cup for three successive years (2000-2002), which was also trained by Marshall.
The Joanne Parravicino-owned Seattle Sunshine will be shouldering 124 pounds, handing Run Alke Run 11 pounds. But Run Alke Run’s stable mate Vitality will carry the top impost of 133 pounds.
The other five competitors all appear to be in for a baptism by speed.
The Alto Jane Condition Race over 1 100 metres will see the local debut of importees Marcus Antonius and Soca Diva.
While fans look forward to seeing them, the Aysha Syndicate duo of Just A Fashion and Wild Cat Tea, drawn in Boxes 1 and 2, are expected to finish in that order again.
