‘Gentleman’ Naz remembered on GHL Day

NONE can doubt that Nazir Ahamad stood like a colossus among his horse racing peers, and no wonder tomorrow’s Boxing Day, holiday programme is being held in his honour. This easygoing GENTLEMAN was known to take his defeats, which were very few and far betwen, and victories with that same reassuring smile. The presence of Naz, as he was popularly known will be sorely missed at tomorrow’s Guardian Holdings Limited-sponsored racing carnival at Santa Rosa Park, Arima.

But the memory of the man will not go away from local horseracing all entirely, since his red with black sash colours will be carried by Phantom Bidder in the feature Guardian Life Gold Cup over 2000 metres. For more than two decades, Naz formed a winning partnership with the late ace trainer Eric “Colt” Durant, and together they won if not all, almost all the major classics and stakes races at least once. What a resounding cheer will ring out if Phantom Bidder should cross the finish line first in tomorrow’s race, carrying Naz’s colours, to give his estate their first victory in the event since 1991 when Panama Pete scored.

This affable businessman who once headed GHL himself (he was company chairman up to the time of his death), was very fond of horseracing, and teamed up with the Maestro of Marabella (Durant), turfites were always on the lookout for their runners in the classics and “big races” and were almost never let down. It was a sad day for local horseracing that morning of May 21 this year, just over two months after celebrating his 69th birthday, when the announcement came that Naz died. On advice from Durant, Naz never flinched to purchase “big money” racehorses, and always seemed to be successful in his venture.

He was responsible for GHL’s involvment in sponsoring the Boxing Day racing carnival. Now both Naz and the Maestro of Marabella have gone to the great beyond, local horseracing will never be the same without them, but as the saying goes — the show must go on, and it will tomorrow. A massive crowd is anticipated on this Boxing Day holiday, and several new booths have been put in place to handle the expected heavy volume of betting.

Racing is expected to be very keen throughout the day, and the odd surprise winner could be anticipated. To add some flavour to the day’s 10-race programme, four Trinidadian riders headed by ex-champion Emile Ramsammy have returned home and will be seen in the saddle. Apart from Ramsammy, there are Tyrone Harding, elder brother of current champ Brian, Richard dos Ramos and Raymond Ganpath. Harding (B) will be astride two of the pre-race favourites, in the Guardian Life St Ann’s Stakes - Arts And Lovers, and the Guardian Life Gold Cup - Sugar Mike, and could have a shot at a hat-trick in the “big races” astride Bajan-bred Kylie Wylie in the Guardian Life St James Stakes.