BY CHARLIE HEATH

The chestnut filly FRESH MILK owned by McDonald Stevenson's Sunset Farms, trained by Boston John and confidently ridden by Paul Leacock won the 57th running of the Digicel Barbados Guineas (GR.1R. - BAR) at the Garrison on Monday April 28, 2008.

The race for West Indian-bred 3-year-olds going 1570 metres (7.8 furlongs) was the feature event on the Ninth and Final Day of the Barbados Turf Club's First Racing Season.

The filly, easily recognized by her prominent white blaze, broke smartly from the gates, but was immediately settled into third place by Leacock behind VANDROSS and ROYAL EMBLEM who were setting some strong early fractions.

ROYAL EMBLEM with last year's champion jockey Anderson Trotman continued to match strides with Juan Crawford on VANDROSS, while MAHOGANY BIRD with Ricardo Hibbert and FRESH MILK tracked in third and fourth respectively.

Approaching the three furlong marker Leacock eased FRESH MILK up to the leaders and by the time they reached the two furlong marker the filly was in full flight and in the lead from the Lord Michael Taylor-Clifton Racing owned ROYAL EMBLEM trained by Richard Deane.

There was no stopping FRESH MILK as she turned for home and under a very confident ride by Paul Leacock she ran out an easy winner from ROYAL EMBLEM with the Vere Davis owned, William Clarke trained, MAHOGANY BIRD who was a reserve for the race, and who only got into the race on Monday morning finishing third.

Fourth was the Gay Smith owned GOLDEN MOON, trained by Edward Walcott Jnr. with Shane Collymore in the irons.

The manner in which this filly won the first jewel of the Barbados Triple Crown over 1570 metres was certainly very exciting and showed that she is a very special filly that certainly has the credentials to go on as a strong contender for this year's Triple Crown.

Trainer Boston John deserves full credit for the way he has handled this filly. He has picked her races carefully and brought her fighting fit for them. FRESH MILK has now won five of her eight starts and earned just over $179,000 in her short career to date.

The Digicel Friends and Family Handicap, for the A1-D2 class horses sprinting 1100 metres (5 ½ furlongs), was won by the Sir David Seale owned FAVORITE PLAYER trained by Hall of Fame trainer Clayton Greenidge and ridden by Louis-Phillippe Beuzelin. Second and third was the Aysha Syndicate owned pair of WHO'S WAVERING and WHO'S TO SAY, while TRINITY finished fourth.

Young apprentice jockey Louis-Phillippe Beuzelin was outstanding in the saddle on the day, booting home three winners. His ride on FAVORITE PLAYER was a gem coming from last with two furlongs to go and keeping his mount perfectly balanced he got up in the last stride to deprive WHO'S WAVERING and Juan Ceawford victory.

Another apprentice that had a good day in the saddle was young Kenny John who won two races.

Trainers Andrew Nunes and Victor Cheesman shared the honours on the day saddling two winners each.

Racing continues on Monday May 12th with the feature event being the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company Trophy for Imported (Non-West Indian bred) 3-year-olds and West Indian bred 3-year-olds winners only over 1570 metres (7.8 furlongs). Listed below are the entries and weights for this race.