DUC D FER TRIUMPH IN THE  COOLMORE
"HOME OF CHAMPIONS" STAKES & TROPHY (GR.1. - BAR)
 
BY CHARLIE HEATH
 
The Aysha Syndicate owned Duc D Fer won the feature Coolmore "Home of 
Champions" Stakes & Trophy (GR.1. - BAR) on Saturday January 26, 2008 at the
Garrison Savannah, the Third Day of the Barbados Turf Club's First Racing Season
for 2008.
 
The race for the A1 and lower class horses run over 1800 metres (9 furlongs), which
is the final prep race for the rich and prestigious Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup
(GR.1. – INT. – BAR) to be run on Saturday March 1, 2008, saw the early fractions
being set by Atul and Storm Arrow.
 
At the four furlong marker Andy Ward on Who's Wavering decided to pick up the
running and went two lengths clear of Atul and Storm Arrow.
 
The Elizabeth Deane trained Duc D Fer with Juan Crawford in the saddle took
closer order with three furlongs to go when moving into second behind stable
companion Who's Wavering and with a furlong to go it looked like a two horse
race until Duc D Fer picked up the running from Who's wavering with 50
metres to go.
 
At the same time Chris Husbands produced the Lord Michael Taylor-Clifton Racing
owned Pure Temptation trained by William Clarke to split the pair.
 
At the post it was an easy win for Duc D Fer with Pure Temptation second;
Who's Wavering third and Storm Arrow fourth.
 
Jockeys Chris Husbands and Andy Ward rode two winners each while William Clarke
and Elizabeth “Liz” Deane both saddled two winners.
 
Lord Michael Taylor-Clifton Racing was the only owner to win two races.
 
A good crowd was an hand to witness the very competitive days card.
 
Racing continues on Saturday, February 9, 2008 with the feature races being the
Rotherley Construction Inc. VIII W.I.T.R.A. Classic (GR.1R. – BAR) for West
Indian bred 4-year-olds over 2000 meters (10 furlongs) and the Rotherley
Construction Inc. Stakes & Trophy for Imported (Non-West Indian bred)
3-year-olds over 1570 meters (7.8 furlongs)