BOUNCEBAK UPSETS IN FEATURE

SAGICOR BREEDERS' CLASSIC (GR.1RB. - BAR)

BY CHARLIE HEATH

The feature Sagicor Life Breeders' Classic (GR.1RB. - BAR) for Barbados bred 3-year-olds and over, run over 1800 metres (9 furlongs)  on Saturday November 8, 2008, the First Day of the Barbados Turf Club's Third Racing Season, was won by the Lord Michael Taylor-Clifton Racing owned 4-year-old bay filly BOUNCEBAK ridden by Anderson Ward.

The William Clarke trained filly looked a picture in the ring and went to the gates looking like she was tuned by a computer.

When starter Mark Batson sent them on their way BOUNCEBAK broke smartly and was immediately challenged by favourite APOSTLE with Anderson Trotman in the saddle. The pair put four lengths on the rest of the field within the first furlong and it was only when they entered the straight for the final run home that BOUNCEBAK started to ease away from the Andrew Nunes trained APOSTLE.

With 50 metres to go the EM&M owned VANDROSS trained by Naz Issa with Jason Leacock in the saddle passed a fading APOSTLE to finish second. APOSTLE held on for third while the Gay Smith owned ZOOM trained by Edward Walcott Jnr. and ridden by Chris Husbands was fourth.

The supporting feature The Elliott Williams Memorial Juvenile Championship Breeders' Stakes and Trophy (GR.1RB. - BAR) for Barbados bred 2-year-olds going 1100 metres (5½ Furlongs), was won by the Gay Smith owned  HEAVEN SENT trained by Edward Walcott Jnr. and ridden by Chris Husbands.

As the eleven horse field left the gates Husbands took the lead with HEAVEN SENT and he was closely followed by BIG GIRLS DONT CRY with Jason Leacock and ONE LOVE with Kenny John.

Going to the three furlong pole John put the Lord Michael Taylor-Clifton Racing owned ONE LOVE trained by Richard Deane into the lead while Husbands was satisfied to sit in second with HEAVEN SENT followed by BIG GIRLS DONT CRY and MATCH POINT.

With 100 metres to go Husbands asked HEAVEN SENT to quicken and in a few strides she picked up the lead and went on to win handily. ONE LOVE held on for second while the Melrose Racing & Clifton Racing owned BIG GIRLS DONT CRY trained by Naz Issa was third with the Lord Michael Taylor-Clifton Racing owned DON PORTALSONNY trained by William Clarke with Rocco Bowen in the saddle finishing fourth.

The Sagicor Life Solutions Trophy Handicap for the A & Lower going 1570 metres (7.8 furlongs) was won by the lightly handicapped WHO'S WAVERING owned by Aysha Syndicate and trained by Elizabeth 'Liz' Deane. Stable companion DUC D FER with Anderson Trotman in the saddle was second, KINGDORA finished third and the heavily weighted JOHN BRIAN finished fourth.

That was the third win in four starts for the 8-year-old A1 classified WHO' WAVERING who surely was a shade lucky to come in with such a handy weight.

Young apprentice jockey Jalon Samuel lived his dream on the day when he rode a beauty of a race to score his first win on the John Gardiner and Clevil Barnett owned KANON trained by Boston John.

It is good to see these young apprentice jockeys showing such promise as they are needed to fill the gap when the more experienced jockeys leave to go overseas to better their positions and that of their families and at the same time earning foreign exchange for the island.

Apprentice Kenny John was the only jockey to score two wins while trainer Victor Cheesman was the only trainer to saddle two winners.

The day's last race was not run after two false starts.

Young inform jockey Christopher Husbands was taken to the Hospital when his mount in the final race reared in the gate and pinned him.

The Barbados Advocate wishes him a speedy recovery.

Racing continues next Saturday, November 15, 2008 with the feature events being the  first and second legs of the Diamond International/Audemars Piguet five part series of races for West Indian bred 2-year-olds which are the  Diamond International/Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Gents Stakes and Trophy for (Colts & Geldings only) and the Diamond International/Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Ladies Stakes and Trophy for (Fillies only).

Listed below are the entries and weights for the races.