Sugar Mike draws gate eight in Sandy Lane

BRIDGETOWN: Sugar Mike drew post position eight for the 23rd running of the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup 2004, scheduled  to be run on Saturday, March 6. At  a press conference held at the Finishing Line Restaurant on Wednesday for the draw, Armond said from the final list of 13 runners six horses will be representing Barbados, two will represent Canada, one the United States of America, one Trinidad and Tobago, two Martinique, and there is one reserve from Barbados.

The draw was then done with an owner, trainer, or authorised person of each horse entered in the race pulling the post position. Eugene Melnyk who has supported the Sandy Lane Gold Cup over the years, and done a lot of work behind the scene to help  promote the race not only in Barbados, but overseas, has again this year entered two horses. Melynk said that he was again looking forward to the race, and looking at the horses entered he is sure that it is again going to be a very tight race. Having seen one of his horses finish second in both the 2002, and 2003 running of the race, he hopes that it will be third time lucky for him.

He said that Kathir, is used to travelling as he has raced in Dubai, England and North America, while Moonshine Hall has raced in the United States and Canada, winning the Charlie Barley at Woodbine, with Patrick Husbands, who will be riding him on Gold Cup day, while Slade Callaghan will have the leg up on Kathir. Nick Parravicino, owner of Talkaboutlucky, said that his mare looks well, and like Eugene Melnyk he hopes that it will be third time lucky for him. He said that he hopes that it will be a lovely day, and that there will be a big crowd present to watch what primacies to be a very exciting race. Trainer Wi-lliam (Bill) Mar-shall promised Melynk that he would have to come good to beat Thady Quill, last year’s winner, as he is feeling very good since returning to Barbados. Clayton Greenidge, trainer of Feet On Flames, said that while his horse was better at the shorter trips, he could only do his best with what he has and hope for the best. He is making a few changes in his preparation, and hopes he will do well in the race.

Jean-Marc Cozier, trainer of Lion Country, the  improving 4 year-old, who won the Coolmore, which is the prep race leading up to the Gold Cup said his horse was young, strong, sound and would have a shot at winning. Trainer of Hard Dancer, Andrew Nunes said that he was a bit disappointed with the horses run in the Coolmore, after running a good race on Boxing Day, but mentioned that he had recovered quickly after the Coolmore, and is working well, so he expects him to do well in the Gold Cup. Armond thanked all those who attended, and promised that the racing on Gold Cup day is going to be very exciting, with other big races on the day attracting other overseas horses.

Following are the runners and their post positions: (1) Sharp Impact (USA), (2) Talkaboutlucky (Bar), (3) Storm Hunter (R-1) (Bar), (4) Lion Country (Bar), (5) Kathir (Canada), (6) Hard Dancer (Bar), (7) Moonshine Hall (Canada), (8) Sugar Mike (T&T), (9) Peace Envoy (Bar), (10) Maciste (Martinique), (11) Litaneo (Martinique), (12) Thardy Quill (Bar), (13) Fleet On Flames (Bar).