For the third consecutive year, horse racing in Barbados has a new champion trainer. This time it is Jamaican-born Andrew Nunes, who captured the championship with earnings of $490 327.
His statistics show him winning 28 races, supported by 19 seconds, 17 thirds and 19 fourth- placed finishes and a winning percentage of 16. It was a long hard toil, but a truly deserving reward. Nunes’ year started slowly and he held fourth position in the table at the end of the first season with earnings of $137 311. The majority of those earnings came from his seven wins, the most lucrative being his triumph with Apostle in the Coolmore Home Of Champions Stakes and trophy (Gr-1) over 1 800 metres.
That season was headed by champion trainer Robert Pierce, who soon after moved on to Woodbine race track in Canada, leaving an opportunity for someone else to be crowned champion trainer. The second season was destined to be very open, with the classics for three-year-olds taking centre stage. This was the call for trainer Naz Issa, as recorded a clean sweep of the three-year-old classics, with one-two finishes on every occasion.
In the process, Issa took over the overall lead with earnings of $424 590 by the end of the second season.
New boy on the block, defending champion jockey Anderson Ward, was by this time finding his touch, and produced 15 winners, for earnings of $161 212.
Nunes was steady during this season and produced 14 winners for earnings of $194 142. Nunes also sent a message to the competition that he had ammunition, by launching the Sir Charles and Lady Williams-owned flighty filly Slip Stream. He also had the improving Mingun Temple in his armoury.
As proceedings swung into the home stretch, with the start of the third and final season, things got even more interesting, with clear leader Naz Issa appearing to be choking on the bit.Anderson Ward continued his battle with Nunes, who was mindful that Issa was the real target. The fact that Ward had no real shot at winning the overall championship meant he could only give Nunes that much needed momentum.
Nunes started the final season of five race days trailing Issa by $93 137. With Apostle not firing consistently, Nunes then launched double strikes on Day 1, day 3, and landed a triple blow on the fourth day, to move within $19 722 going into the final day.
On the final day Anderson Ward scored three winners to win the battle, but Nunes won the war with his prize horse Mingun Temple, who landed the Victor Chandler Stakes and Trophy over 1 570 metres for the top rated animals.
That win was enough for Nunes to move to the top of the class, and register his first trainers’ championship.
Nunes’ statistics show that he won two triples on September 4 with Quality Time, Summer Star and Grand Slam; then again on December 11 with Bond Street, Slip Stream and Jamaica Moon.
By distances his statistics also make for interesting reading, as he won ten races at 1 570 metres, eight at 1 800 metres, seven at 1 100 metres and three at 1 000 metres.
Nunes, talking to Nation Sports on his success said: “It was a really good achievement, it’s not the same thrill as winning a Gold Cup or Derby but it is nice to attain one of the three goals that I have set myself as a trainer here in Barbados.”
He further praised his whole team and put his success down to consistent teamwork and dedication. “It’s a team thing, not a one-man show, the nucleus of us were together for the past three years. Nunes further stated: “Most of the previous champion trainers won the championship by winning the Gold Cup, the triple crown or the classics, but I won neither which makes my championship success sweeter.”
He mentioned Apostle, Mingun Temple and Slip Stream as the trio that gave him most satisfaction last year.
When asked if they were any people in particular he thought assisted him in winning the championship, he smiled and said: “Sir Charles William was mainly responsible for my success, as he provided me with the opportunity, and great facilities at Kendal to keep the horses fit.”
“Sir Charles has continued to breed some beautiful horses of which we were lucky to retain a few nice ones.”
Nunes then turned his attention to the relationship he has with stable jockey Anderson Trotman, saying: “He’s a fantastic rider and we understand each other well. Our relationship has reached the point where I don’t need to give him instructions; he knows the horses very well.”
Nunes also mentioned the support he received from Helen Spencer, Robert Buchanan and Neville Isdell to name a few of those who have entrusted him with some very high quality animals.
