Sugar Mike still in Barbados

THE quartet of Trinidad horses including Horse of the Year Sugar Mike which raced on Sandy  Lane Gold Cup Day at the Garrison Savannah, Bridgetown, Barbados, on March 6, are now expected back home today. Sugar Mike, Carnival Messiah, Golden Honour and Tricky Guy were twice scheduled to be flown home previously but their arrival had been delayed. Wilma Primus, owner-breeder of  2002 triple crown winner Carnival Messiah said her horses were first expected home one week ago, but it was put back to Tuesday, because documents relating to customs clearance were late.

An angry Primus who returned from a short holiday in sister-isle Tobago yesterday, heard that the foursome failed to arrive again yesterday as planned,  due to the unavailability of  the freight forwarders to supply a cargo plane to fly them across. Primus claimed she called carriers Skyline Freight yesterday, and spoke with a senior employee, explaining the predicament of the owners, and made him aware of  the urgency in getting the horses back here. She urged him to try and expedite the return of the horses. Primus said: “I told him these are our best horses at home and some had subscriptions paid to race in major events next month.”  She claimed the Skyline Freight employee promised to contact Barbados to have the matter resolved. A senior employee of the branch of the airline at home, who preferred to remain anonymous said, he will try his best to assist.“The shipment originates in Barbados,” he said. “We are working with the air carrier and as long as all the documentation and paperwork are in place and the horses are ready for travel they could be expected in today.”