ALL?EYES?WILL be on this year’s Sandy Lane Gold Cup winner Aristodemus today as he makes his first appearance since capturing the coveted prize on March 2 at the Garrison Savannah.
The Sir David Seale-owned colt will line up against eight other opponents in race seven, the Barbados Museum and Historical Society Handicap over 1 800 metres.
He is the one they will all have to beat as the Barbados Turf Club stages Paying Tribute to the Heritage of the Garrison Savannah Historic Area Raceday.
In this event for three-year and older horses rated 120-140 and also open to horses rated 119, the top weight of 130 pounds hardly looks like an obstacle, since Aristodemus has already won with 125 and 126 pounds, respectively.
Trainer Liz Deane has been very patient with her charge, who has displayed sublime form reeling off four wins and a second in his last six starts.
Ace rider Anderson Trotman will be aboard as Aristodemus seeks to move his record to six wins from 11 career starts. Having defeated Graeme Hill, Show Me The Money and Erados in the Gold Cup, his main competition could come from 2010 Gold Cup winner, Zoom.
Although he has hardly revisited winner’s enclosure with spasmodic performances, Zoom’s best efforts have been two second-place finishes.
One was in this year’s Tanglewood Stakes & Trophy over 2 000 metres won by the now retired Aston Martin and the other came behind Show Me The Money in the Credit Note Handicap against horses rated 95-115 at today’s trip.
Still, on paper, he appears to be one of the stronger contenders.
After that pole-to-pole victory, Show Me The Money will need a similar scenario and should that happen, only the speedy Little Man Arran looks like a possible early contender. He could go very close.
Once recovered from his Gold Cup experience, Erados should capture one of the top four spots.
Indian Officer has been showing signs of going in the right direction and to his advantage he has defeated Aristodemus but that was over a year ago.
Island Memories has been fairly consistent against lower rated horses and is very hard to fancy here.
Outside of a fourth-place finish some four starts back, Graeme Hill has been going in the wrong direction. Now in with a penny stamp weight, this will be the ideal opportunity to bring a smile to the faces of his connections and fans with a good effort.
Since arriving in the island, Modimo has given punters little to work in his two appearances on the track and this field also looks to be out of his reach.
My Picks
Race 1: Stratford’s Lad
Race 2: Roars
Race 3: Intrepid Dancer
Race 4: Broken Vow
Race 5: Run Alke Run
Race 6: Verizon
Race 7: Aristodemus
Race 8: Wild Orchid
