FRESH MILK CRUISES TO VICTORY

IN  THE 69th RUNNING OF THE UNITED

INSURANCE BARBADOS DERBY (GR. 1R. – BAR)

 

BY CHARLIE HEATH

FRESH MILK confirmed on Saturday August 9, 2008 that she is a true champion when she cruised to victory in the 69th running of the United Insurance Barbados Derby (GR. 1R. – BAR) at the Garrison Savannah, the Sixth Day of the Barbados Turf Club's Second Racing Season.

Confidently ridden by jockey Paul Leacock in the 2000 metre (10 furlongs) event she picked up the running entering the home stretch for the final run home.

Leacock kept the Sunset Farms owned chestnut filly trained by Boston John off the pace until the final two furlongs and when he produced her she literally cruised to victory.

When starter Mark Batson sent the ten horse field on their way it was MYSTICAL MAGIC and MARCUS AURELIUS who set some very fast fractions for the first few furlongs opening a gap of about five lengths on the field.

Tracking them was Andy Ward on the Lord Michael Taylor-Clifton Racing owned THE BANGOR BARON with VANDROSS and GOLDEN MOON following.

With three furlongs to go the two front runners started to fade and the William Clarke trained THE BANGOR BARON picked up the lead while the Gay Smith owned GOLDEN MOON trained by Edward Walcott Jnr. and ridden by Chris Husbands was in hot pursuit.

At the two furlong marker THE BANGOR BARON struck the front followed by GOLDEN MOON while FRESH MILK could be seen cutting through the field like a hot knife going through butter.

As they turned for home the McDonald Stevenson bred FRESH MILK just cruised past the leaders and went on to a very comfortable and deserving victory.

This filly from a 2-year-old showed that she had champion written all over her and on Saturday (9/08/08) she confirmed her superiority over her 3-year-old rivals even though she carried 3 pounds overweight.

Finishing second was THE BANGOR BARON while GOLDEN MOON was third and ZOOM fourth.

The supporting feature the T.A. 'Tommy' Peirce Memorial Trophy (Handicap) for the A1-C1 class horses, going 1570 metres (7.8 furlongs) was won by the Elias Haloute and Sir Charles Williams owned APOSTLE ridden by Anderson Trotman and trained by Andrew Nunes. Second was the Sir David Seale owned JOHN BRIAN ridden by Chris Husbands and trained by Elizabeth 'Liz' Deane. Finishing third was FAVORITE PLAYER and fourth was WHISKEY FOR ME.

Only nine of the ten races on the card were officially run as there was a false start in Race Six, where most of the horses completed the trip and therefore could not  immediately run again. All bets in this race were refunded.

The jockey of the day was Anderson Trotman as he won four races on the card.

Paul Leacock also had a good day winning three races including the feature United Insurance Barbados Derby (GR. 1R. – BAR).

Andrew Nunes was the trainer of the day saddling four winners, including the supporting feature, The T.A. 'Tommy' Peirce Memorial Trophy Handicap.

Young trainer Saffie Joseph Jnr. saddled his first winner in UNCLE JERRY in the final race.

Racing continues on Saturday, August 23, 2008 with the feature event being the BTBA Championship Sprint Stakes & Trophy for Barbados bred 3 year olds and over. Listed below are the entries for the race.

AQUARIUS STAR                MACUS AURELIUS

BOUNCEBAK                      RIBO TANGO

EASTERN PEACE                ROYAL EMBLEM

EXPLODING LADY              THE BANGOR BARON  

HAWAYAN TROPIC             WHAT A SPLASH

HOT SHOT                           ZIDANE

KINGDORA