Kathir chases Sandy Lane Gold Cup again

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Kathir, “disqualified” winner of last year’s 13th edition of the Barbados Sandy Lane Gold Cup, will be looking to put things right this time, at the Garrison Savannah here, today. The American-bred eight-year-old horse will face eight challengers in the Bds$221,000 (US$110,500) race over 1800 metres. Trinidad and Tobago owners stayed away from the rich event this time, but turfites still have a vested interest on the day’s programme when Supremelysatisfied saddled by champion trainer John O’Brien steps on the turf track for the Bds$86,500 (US$43,250) Tangle-wood Stakes over 2000 metres.

This Jamaican-bred four-year-old colt will be ridden by ex-champion jockey Emile Ramsammy who is without a ride in the feature Gold Cup, a race he won three times aboard Frisky Wharf (1985), Stangrave Park (1987), and Call To Account (1988). He will have Latonia, winner of  the Jamaica Fillies Guineas and Oaks at Caymanas Park last year as company. Owned by famous Barbados-based Canadians Eugene and Laura Melnyk, Kathir will be reunited with jockey Slade Callaghan who steered him to a 3 victory in last year’s race.

Two of the declared starters have withdrawn from the 1800-metre run, the richest horse-racing event in the English-speaking Caribbean —  the Melnyks’ second entry Mellowes, and Lion Country.  Top jockey Patrick Husbands had been slated to ride Mellowes. English-born Barbados champion trainer Bill Marshall has a very strong hand in the race with the Irish-bred Peace Angel, a two time winner of her last two races, 2003 Sandy Lane Gold Cup winner Thady Quill, and Storm Hunter. And turfites are reminded that Peace Angel was an impressive winner of the Coolmore Stakes, and will again be ridden by Paul Leacock.

Two-time Barbados champion jockey Jono Jones, who won a record four consecutive Gold Cup races — Blast Of Storm 2000, 2001 and 2002 and Thady Quill in 2003 - rides Thady Quill again, and Storm Hunter will have Andy Ward up. The Barbados 2004 “Horse of the Year” Feet On Flames, who finished second to Kathir last year, will be hoping to go one better this time, with current champion Bajan rider Andy Trotman in the irons. Also in the Tanglewood will be Swade, a winner of  his last three races, 2003 Barbados “Horse of the Year” Kabul, with Juan Crawford up, and last year’s Barbados Derby winner Captain PJ, who won his last two races.

Here are the runners, riders and weights for the two feature races:

RACE 6: THE III TANGLEWOOD STAKES & TROPHY (GR.1) - WEST INDIAN BRED 4-YEAR-OLDS & OVER - PURSE: BDS$86,500 (US$43,250) - 2000 METRES (TURF).    
1. SUPREMELYSATISFIED 125  E RAMSAMMY 
2. STARBURST (RES 1) 122  P LEACOCK
3. SUGAR DADDY 129  P HUSBANDS 
4. SWADE 129  R CUMBERBATCH 
5. SUPER STYLE 122  J JONES
6. BEWITCHED 126  SCRATCHED
7. CAT ATTACK 129  R RAJKUMAR
8. KABUL 125  J CRAWFORD  
9. MR. BLUE 129  K NICHOLS   
10. LATONIA 122  A TROTMAN 
11. SECRET PRINCE 129  D YEO                
12. CAPTAIN P J 125  A WARD
13. SCARLET PRINCE (RES 2) 125  J LEACOCK
14. FOXY LADY 126  D BRYAN

RACE 7:  THE XXIV SANDY LANE BARBADOS GOLD CUP (GR. 1) - 3-YEAR-OLDS & OVER - PURSE:  $221,000 -  1800 METRES (TURF).    
1. MELLOWES 129  SCRATCHED
2. STORM HUNTER 129  A WARD
3. FEET ON FLAMES 129  A TROTMAN
4. KATHIR 129  S.CALLAGHAN
5. THADY QUILL 129  J JONES
6. STRONG OPINION 122  R WALCOTT
7. DEPUTY PM 122  D YEO
8. NOBLE IMPORT 129  R CUMBERBATCH
9. PEACE ANGEL 126  P LEACOCK
10. WHO’S WAVERING 126  D BRYAN
11. LION COUNTRY 129  SCRATCHED