Can ‘Lover’ break Bajan Gold Cup jinx?

The six-year-old American-bred mare, runner-up to Top Of The Class in last year’s Guardian Holdings Gold Cup over 2000 metres, is the only TT nominee for the gilt-edged Bajan race.

And yesterday, trainer Edmund de Freitas said his daughter of Friendly Lover/Winning Spurs is in fine fettle.

He said, "All is fine, she’s going fine and is fit. There are no problems."

Ex-champion jockey De Freitas said he plans taking Miss Lover Lover to Bridgetown for the 15th running of the Sandy Lane Gold Cup "the Thursday before carnival (February 23)."

He said Miss Lover Lover will not race before the 1800 metres Gold Cup scheduled for March 4 at Garrison Savannah.

De Freitas said he expects his charge will run well on the Garrison track, and said he has been working Miss Lover Lover (clockwise) right handed to suit the course.

While a jockey has not been firmly booked, Ricardo Jadoo is expected to be astride in the "big race."

To date, Trinidad and Tobago have won this prestigious Caribbean championship only on three occasions, including the inaugural event captured by Bold Lewis ridden by Irish jockey Declan Gillespie in 1982. The other victories were scored by Frisky Wharf in 1985, while Call To Account was out last winner in 1988.

Last year, "Horse of the Year" Sugar Mike went to Barbados for the 14th running of the event but failed miserably, finishing down the field in the race won by Feet On Flames with Andy Trotman up.

Over the past two years, the Barbados Turf Club had their Gold Cup televised to over 400,000 race fans worldwide on TV Games Network. Owned by the Six M Stables, Miss Lover Lover will try to break the 18-year hoodoo against 15 rivals including last year’s winner Feet On Flames and the third-placed Storm Hunter. The second nomination stage is Friday when connections will have to pay $1,000 for their runners to take their place in the race.