Trainer Jones goes after 6th Derby win

BRIDGETOWN: Chally Jones is called Mr Derby in Barbados, and for good reason. As a jockey, he has ridden 11 Derby winners, by far the most by any single jockey, and when the United Barbados Derby runs off at the Garrison Savannah today, he will be going after his sixth win in the country’s premier horse racing classic as  a trainer. During the past 19 years, the United Derby has been dominated primarily by two trainers, namely Bill Marshall and Jones. Marshall is the only trainer to have saddled more Derby winners than Jones during that period, having led back in eight of the last 19 winners. Jones will be trying to close that gap today, as he will be represented by three horses in the 2000-metres event.

The trio are Annies Song, owned by All Star Racing, Flag Woman, owned by Michael Panter, and Winforce, owned by Ann Gale. Both Annies Song and Flag Woman were bred by Challys wife Diana, while Winforce was bred by McDonald Stevenson. As a jockey, Challys Derby wins came via Pepperpot (1962); Tea Breeze (1964); Big Joey (1965); Volare (1969); Vintage (1970); Benares (1971); Watersmeet (1973); Playboy (1975); Odds Against (1977); Royal Opera (1978); and Red Wine (1979). His two Derby hat-tricks  1969-71 and 1977-79  as a  jockey are probably a world record. His first win as a trainer came in 1986, when he conditioned Paddy Bird to win that years blue ribbon event. His other wins were with Overdraft (1991), Winsome Lass (1992), Zarmella (1994) and Incitatus (1996). 

Of Challys three Derby entries, Winforce is the only one who could be considered not in with an outside chance of  upsetting raging favourite Kabul. Winforce’s performances to date indicate she has a distinct preference for sprint distances, with her only victory coming over 1100-metres on July 10. It is believed she will be used as a front-runner in an effort to upset the free-running  Kabul. Both Flag Woman and Annies Song have shown they are capable of staying the 2 000 metres, although they appear to be short of the kind of class required to turn back Kabul. Annies Song won her debut race over 1570- metres, but has been disappointing since that performance. The same could also be said of Flag Woman, who looked impressive when winning her debut race over 1100 — metres but who has disappointed ever since. She stayed on well to finish fourth behind Birdie Point going 1800-metres last race day, but despite that Flag Woman will have to improve considerably to have a chance with Kabul today.