An authoritative performance by Gandalf signalled the start of a quest for the Triple Crown at the Garrison Savannah Saturday.
The Bills Inc. colt torched the field to win the 68th running of the Barbados Guineas, worth $54 750, over 1 570 metres.
Gandalf, who formed part of a treble for top jockey Jalon Samuel, was put straight to the lead and never saw a rival. The son of Rocamadour out of Poetic Justice, which is trained by Victor Cheeseman, easily got home and geared down by four lengths in a respectable time of 1:36.1.
The winning connections were all smiles as the other favourite Brave Star closed from down in the back to be second despite never issuing any threat to his stablemate.
Stealin, who sat close to the leaders, remained in contention to take third ahead of Toco Man, who rounded out the top four positions.
The win was the second in seven years for Bills Inc. with an offspring out of the mare Poetic Justice, having done so in 2015 with Poetic Licence. It also made it the fifth win for Cheeseman in that time span. Â
Samuel put his exclamation mark of his day’s performance with a decisive victory aboard Celestial Storm. The grey filly, which is owned by C. N. Parravicino, stalked leader Sea Gold from the gates in the Slip Stream Handicap over 1 100 metres before sailing by him at the quarter pole for a popular win.
Samuel’s first success came in the No Fear Condition Race over 1 570 metres as he smoothly moved from last to first with the H and M-owned colt Inspired Adventure.Â
Barbados Guineas Raceday was special for jockey Rasheed Hughes and apprentice Nrico Prescod.
Hughes pencilled a treble, the highlight of which was a patient pole-to-pole victory astride the classy colt Infrared, which is owned by brothers Daniel and Martin Raizman. The race in question was the 1 800 metres George Cecil Corbin Memorial Trophy Handicap.
Hughes began the day by winning the first two races, starting in the Kandahar Handicap as he guided Victor Syndicate’s Javalier to her fourth career win. Awesome Swimmer was next given a calculated ride by Hughes to land the Amanyara Handicap. Both of those wins were over the 1 800 metres trip.
It was a second win in succession for the Edition Farm’s filly which gave trainer Roger Parravicino the lone daily double among the trainers as he also saddled Celestial Storm to close out the day.
Heroes Day will be a special one for young Prescod as he rode a superb race astride Patsy Springer’s Whereshewent to register his maiden win.
He had settled his mount mid-pack before requesting her all as the field came for home to light up the tote board at the generous odds of 16-1.
With the first season now concluded, the Barbados Turf Club’s second season will open on May 12. (LY)
