Poor ride to blame for Lane defeat

Trainer Douglas Bennett left Barbados a bit disappointed with Solid Gold’s dismal performance in the Sandy Lane Gold Cup on Saturday.

He blamed a gentle ride at a most important stage of the race for the poor performance —ninth of 12 runners — in the big race at the Garrison Savannah. Bennett said the quality of runners in this year’s event was of a very high standard but felt his charge could have had a smaller end of the US $218,000 purse in the 1800 metres turf event with a more vigorous ride. “Solid Gold did not have the best of breaks and his rider (Ricky Walcott) did not help the cause by having him too relaxed in the early stages of the event,” he said. “Instead of trying to rate Solid Gold, he could have been a bit more aggressive at the bottom turn.

At that point he would have known he was in a battle,” he said. After dismounting, Walcott reported he was not going at that point and only found his best stride when the horses straightened for the run in,” said Bennett. “That’s when the winner flew and the race was over,” he stated. Besides being slightly disappointed, Bennett noted the competition was not ordinary in the staying event. The new horses brought in for the prestigious turf contest, which was won twice by locally conditioned runners, were of the highest standard, he said. “They are stakes-bred horses. They were classified ‘A1’ and Solid Gold ‘C2’, and the difference in weight was only four pounds,” he said. But Bennett, who is a known sport,  said if he has a contender again next year he will be making the trip again. He said Solid Gold came out of the race well and arrangements are being made for his return.