Race for last at Santa Rosa

The countdown to the 2003 edition of the Royal Oak Derby is underway, with Derby fever becoming contagious in the horse  racing fraternity.

Although many will audition, only one will be chosen for the part of lead actor and today we review the candidates for the “Bunny Prize” of last place. The candidates come from across the Caribbean and once again feature contenders from Barbados. In traditional fashion though we are back. In 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 we got it right although last year, we lost by a long two lengths, so a return to glory is the objective of this analysis (which took all of five and a half minutes). What follows, we hope is understood for what it is — an analysis of the inability of the ability of the three-year-olds on display. In a race that requires ability to win, we look at the disabilities that lead to 15th and last place. The outsiders for this contest are easy to diagnose, their pedigree suggests that they will be doing their best work at the business end of the race, and will not leave their owners bankrupt and in debt. They are money earners for the racing club and the money takers for the betting public.

Top of the Class is at 1500-1 to place dead last in this field, but the musical chairs of opinions from jockeys and trainers, particularly those involving “under pressure” jockey Ricardo Jadoo, suggest that Top of the Class, may in fact have been over-trained especially in his latest gallop. Undisputed and Celebration Time come from the same family in terms of ownership. However while both colts have shown some promise in commercials, they have failed to perform under lights on most occasions. Undisputed has the better pedigree. This colt however, like Celebration Time, seems destined to play a bit role. Both have been coupled at 1000-1. Super Grey, with the wily tipster who has a lot of knowledge as his trainer, may still find that he would need to borrow Superman’s wings to win, and is in at 600-1. The Bajans are here in three folds: already there is some interspersed betting for one of them. If there is one sign it is that not many Barbadians have made the trip. In the meantime, while the few Bajans and some jockeys jostle to stay out of this last place betting, the bookmakers (and now there are fewer and fewer and fewer) or the OTBs are not taking any betting on this, for fear of a backlash from concerned and knowledgeable customers. Did I remind everyone that this bet is only available in certain parts of Trinidad and not even in Tobago?

At 500-1 is the other Bajan, Sweet Dreams with a “Trini” abroad in Rajpaul Rajkumar, adding fuel to the fire that a “Trin”i man can ride a Bajan better than one of their own. At 250-1 is Royal Red, the last of the threesome from Barbados. Trinidadian poker players, turned gamblers on race days are putting their well-learned cash on Barbadian Jason Maughn not being able to steer Ginger Bay (150-1) the right way around this track, and he may find himself in some difficulty racing backwards. Sir Vidia with Jody Arneaud in the saddle is trained by President of the Trainers Association; Shaffique Khan and he could be forgiven for this blatant attempt to pad the field. Again this colt has shown promise on occasions, and is one that could run into a place at big odds. However he is at 100-1 to place last. After some moments of positive conviction, odds on Golden Honour have lengthened from 90-1 to 100-1 (without a Running nose or any overweight). Now though the real betting begins, because at 70-1 to carry her large frame past the winning post, as the others unsaddle, is Sweet Tempo. At 10-1, we have a bunch of contenders and queue of gamblers waiting to lay on these prices. The bookies are a little concerned that some trainers and owners connected with several of the contenders are generously unloading blue notes as the odds drop on their horses. Isle Be There and Royal Flush are from 10-1 to 8-1. Due Diligence is at 3-1 and there are a lot of takers and there has been the need for an additional cashier to be called upon to assist with the situation, as the crowds are swarming to the $100 minimum bet line.

In fact what was observed on Friday, is that a number of binoculars were astonishingly bought at a number of Port-of-Spain establishments, merely with the race in mind and with a view to see their particular contenders for the last place competition battle his/her way home. The three favourites are two talented sons and a daughter of the soil. They are home-bred, locally ridden and they will have no excuses, and on their day would take a lot of beating in this race. Though the conditions of the betting and the distance of the race (2,000 metres) suggest that theirs will be a tussle to the line. At 1-2 is My Aphrodite, with Van Nistlerooy quoted by most layers at 2-5 making him the outright favourite to follow his coach Alex Ferguson, sucking a lemon this season, as Arsenal win it all in the English premiership. Between the two of them (My Aphrodite and Van Nistlerooy) though there is a private bet as to who will do better than whom. In fact, their connections all believe, as do the other 13 owners, that they can gain a place in the valuable contest. If wishes were horses maybe...