PHOTOGRAPH BY JUNIOR FRANKLYN

 

HAWAYAN TROPIC(Jason Leacock)(in the center) GOING STRIDE FOR

STRIDE WITH WALK ON BY(Christopher Husbands)(on the inside) TO

EVENTUALLY GET UP AND WIN THE FEATURE RACE ON THE DAY,

"THE SECOND LEG OF THE BARBADOS TRIPLE CROWN" THE PINNACLE

FEEDS MIDSUMMER CREOLE CLASSIC (GR.1R. - BAR) BY A NOSE

 

HAWAYAN TROPIC NOSES OUT WALK ON BY

IN THE PINNACLE FEEDS MIDSUMMER

CREOLE CLASSIC (GR.1R. - BAR)

BY CHARLIE HEATH

The Equus Stables owned chestnut filly Hawayan Tropic trained by Victor Cheesman benefited from a well judged ride by Jason Leacock to get up in the last stride to snatch victory by a nose from Walk On By in the feature Pinnacle Feeds Midsummer Creole Classic (GR.1R. - BAR), the "Second Jewel of the Barbados Triple Crown", run off at the Garrison Savannah on Saturday September 29, 2007, the Fourth Day of the Barbados Turf Club's Second Racing Season.

Unfortunately, the Elias Haloute and Sir Charles Williams owned Apostle, winner of the "First Jewel of the Triple Crown", the Banks Barbados Guineas (GR.1RB. - BAR), was a late withdrawal, which certainly was not only a disappointment to many race fans but also took some of the interest out of the race as he was the only horse eligible to win this years Triple Crown.

When Starter Mark Batson sent the horses on their way from the 1800 metre (9 furlongs) start it was Aquarius Star that struck the lead but this was short lived as Chris Husbands on Walk On By decided he would set the early fractions.

Passing the stands for the first time Walk On By had opened a two length lead on Aquarius Star who was followed by Tom Dooley.

It was not until the 3 furlong marker that the positions started to change with Aquarius Star and Tom Dooley giving way to Hawayan Tropic and La Princessa who were in hot pursuit of the A Joseph III and S. Joseph Jr. owned, Hayden Nicholls trained, Walk On By.

It was not until the last stride that Hawayan Tropic got her nose in front of Walk On By who finished second. Ricardo Hibbert on the Turf 2000 Racing Stables owned La Princessa finished third with Enzo fourth.

The secondary feature was the  Val Gale Cup (GR.111. - BAR) for the A & Lower horses, also going 1800 metres (9 furlongs).

The lightly weighted French Touch with young Jonathan Grant lead the field pass the stands for the first time followed by China Silk  and John Brian with Duc D Fer and Favorite Player being kept off the pace.

On reaching the two furlong marker the three 3-year-olds were coming under pressure as the Aysha Syndicate's Duc D Fer with Rico Walcott and Sir David Seale's Favorite Player with Ricardo Hibbert were closing in.

At the end it was the Clayton Greenidge trained Favorite Player that hit the line first, while the Liz Deane trained Duc D Fer finished second. Third was China Silk and fourth was Pure Temptation.

The only jockey to win two races on the card was Martiniquian female apprentice Luana Lalung while trainer William Clarke was the only trainer to saddle two winners.

The owner combination of Lord Michael Taylor - Clifton Racing where the only owners to win two races.

The Barbados Turf Club has to be congratulated on the improvements to the racetrack as in the past would have been unlikely that races would have been run after the rains we had during the week.

As it turned out it was an incident free day where the horses that preferred the softer conditions excelled.

Unfortunately towards the end of the days card they were a few horses that were late withdrawals which included the highly favoured Apostle, trained by Andrew Nunes, from the feature Pinnacle Feeds Midsummer Creole Classic (GR.1R. - BAR) and in the final race Nunes also withdrew two more horses Top Lady and Masita.

When the Barbados Advocate asked Barbados Turf Club's, Secretary/Racing Operations Manager Chris Armond why Nunes had withdrew his horses he said that Nunes was not satisfied with the conditions of the track.

Nunes had earlier in the day won with Border Secret, ridden by Anderson Trotman.

Racing continues on Saturday October 13, 2007 with the feature races being the BTBA Sprint Stakes & Trophy (GR.11RB. - BAR) and the inagural running of the Kathleen Taylor Memorial Stakes & Trophy for West Indian bred 2-year-olds. Listed below are the entries for both races.

 

 

Race 5     3:28PM Purse:$25,000   THE BTBA SPRINT STAKES & TROPHY (GR.11RB.-BAR) BARBADOS BRED 3-YEAR-OLDS AND OVER 1100M (Turf)    666 242 903 734 314 335 233 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. DON ANGLESONNY THE NAVIGATOR SHOCK AND AWE RIBO TANGO KABUL SUPER STAR WHAT A SPLASH 5 5 3 5 6 3 4               117 117 106 117 132 111 112   - - -   - - -   - - -   - - -   - - -   - - -   - - - WClarke ANunes BJohn WClarke ECGreenidge EWalcott Jr. EDeane