Jadoo rides Holy Nak in Barbados Derby

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Top Jamaican trainer Andrew Nunes, trying for his second Derby triumph and first in Barbados, puts his hope in the gelding Pomposettor in the 2000 metres (10 furlongs) event at the Garrison Savannah this afternoon. Pomposettor, owned by Elias Haloute and Lady Williams, is one of the top contenders in the field and takes leading jockey Andy Trotman to the post in the Bds$68,000 (US$34,000) event. A winner over 1570 metres in January, Pomposettor is expected to find the extended trip taxing but Trotman is in immaculate form and could use his deft handling of racehorses to topple his more fancied rivals.

Pomposettor was second in the Banks Guineas in April and was a close third in a 1570 metres Derby “prep” event in June behind two of today’s starters — Sackett and the favourite Don Anglesonny. Sackett had won that event by 1 1/4 lengths, but Don Anglesonny avenged the defeat by winning the 1800 metres Midsummer Classic on July 9 by a short head over Sackett. Nunes, who celebrated a Classic triumph last year with Lady Constance in the Guineas, enjoyed Derby glory 12 years ago at Caymanas Park, when his filly Restless Babe captured the Jamaica Derby. A win for Don Anglesonny, to be ridden by 1998 champion jockey Juan Crawford, would give veteran trainer Bill Marshall a tenth Barbados Derby win overall and fourth in the last six years.

Marshall is leading trainer in earnings so far this season at Bds$448,053 (US$224,026), scoring 12 wins. Only Nunes, with 16 wins, has had more victories than Marshall so far this season. Other leading contenders for the Bds$40,000 (US$20,000) first prize include the Jamaica-bred Here and Now, Wild Style, and Santa Faye. Here ‘N’ Now, bred in Jamaica — Irish Quest out of Lakefield — by the Orange Valley Estates, was runner-up in the fillies Guineas in June and will have Randy Cumberbatch riding for trainer Robert Peirce. Wild Style, third in the Midsummer Classic, is a second entry from the Bill Marshall barn and has Jamar Maughn riding, while Santa Faye, with Zimbabwean jockey Donovan Yeo riding for trainer Naz Issa, earns attention based on her Fillies Guineas win in June. Top Trinidadian jockey Ricky Jadoo has also secured a ride in the event, partnering the colt Holy Nak, who placed fourth in the Midsummer Classic.