PURE TEMPTATION "PLATES IT IN GOLD"

IN THE XXVII SANDY LANE BARBADOS

GOLD CUP THRILLER

BY CHARLIE HEATH

The Lord Michael Taylor-Clifton Racing owned PURE TEMPTATION trained by leading trainer William Clarke and ridden by Andy Ward put a "gold plating" on the day for Lord Michael Taylor-Clifton Racing by winning the feature XXVII Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup (GR.1. - INT. - BAR) on Saturday March 1, 2008, at the Garrison Savannah, the Fifth Day of the Barbados Turf Club's First Racing Season for 2008.

Lord Michael Taylor- Clifton Racing had earlier in the day won no less than four other races on the card and could not have asked for more other than to see their United States bred 4-year-old bay colt PURE TEMPTATION, out of VOLITORIA by PURE PRIZE, capture the feature event.

When starter Mark Batson sent the twelve horses representing Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, France and Martinique on their way the first to show was the Elias Haloute & Sir Charles Williams owned crack creole APOSTLE with Anderson Trotman in the saddle, followed by ZARAD with Paul Leacock and WHO'S WAVERING with Keveh Nicholls in third, while PURE TEMPTATION with Andy Ward was tracking in fourth.

Turning the paddock bend for the first time the Andrew Nunes trained APOSTLE was locked in a battle for the lead with the Elizabeth "Liz" Deane trained WHO'S WAVERING while the William Clarke trained PURE TEMPTATION, racing in blinkers for the first time, was right on their heels in third with ZARAD fourth.

With just over three furlongs to go APOSTLE still held a slight lead from WHO'S WAVERING but Ward on PURE TEMPTATION was taking closer order while the Sir David Seale owned JOHN BRIAN with Ricky Walcott was quickly closing on the leaders and WHO'S WAVERING was beginning to fade. Two furlongs from home APOSTLE was joined by both PURE TEMPTATION and JOHN BRIAN.

Turning for home the large crowd was screaming for the game creole to hold on but PURE TEMPTATION and JOHN BRIAN were just a little better in the final furlong when it mattered most and in the end PURE TEMPTATION got up to win by a neck from JOHN BRIAN with APOSTLE another neck back in third and DUC D FER, who came from a long way back, finishing fourth.

It was the day of the reserves as none of the three were in the original twelve chosen to represent Barbados.

The V Sandy Lane Spa Sprint (GR.1. - BAR), one of two supporting features on the card was won by the defending champion PRIMED 'N' LOADED also owned by Lord Michael Taylor-Clifton Racing, trained by William Clarke and ridden by Andy Ward.

PRIMED 'N' LOADED was always on the pace and picked up the race with 25 metres to go and went on to an easy victory. Second was the Aysha Syndicate owned WHO'S CRUSIN, trained by Elizabeth 'Liz' Deane and ridden by Juan Crawford. Third was the Gay Smith owned, SHARP IMPACT, trained by Edward Walcott Jnr and ridden by Jono Jones. Finishing fourth was Lightning Pilot.

The VI Tanglewood Stakes & Trophy (GR.1R. - BAR), the other supporting feature was won by the Attie Joseph 111 & Saffie Joseph Jnr. owned 4-year-old filly, WALK ON BY, trained by Haydn Nicholls and ridden by Ricky Walcott.

WALK ON BY picked up the running very early in the race and set the fractions to end up scoring a very easy victory. Second was the Sir Charles Williams owned BORDER SECRET, trained by Andrew Nunes and ridden by Anderson Trotman. Third was the Trinidad & Tobago entry GODSPELL, owned by Derek Chin Dachin Racing Stables, trained by Christopher Prime and ridden by Richard Dos Ramos. TOP LADY finished fourth.

The day was a dream come true for Lord Michael Taylor-Clifton Racing as in addition to winning the feature XXVII Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup (GR.I. - INT. - BAR) with PURE TEMPTATION they also won one of the two supporting feature events on the card The V Sandy Lane Spa Sprint Stakes & Trophy (GR.I. - BAR) with PRIMED 'N' LOADED.

In addition to winning these two feature races they also won the fourth race with THE WELSH WIZARD; the sixth race with ARM CANDY and the eight race with KINGDORA, a recent purchase.

Andy Ward was the jockey of the day as he won four of the races for owners Lord Michael Taylor-Clifton Racing.

Ward won the XXVII Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup (GR.I. - INT. - BAR) with PURE TEMPTATION; the V Sandy Lane Spa Sprint Stakes (GR.I. - BAR) with PRIMED 'N' LOADED. He also won on ARM CANDY in the sixth and KINGDORA in the eight.

Jono Jones also had a good day winning race two on first time starter MAJOR'S DREAM and race three on MYSTICAL MAGIC.

Trainer William Clarke was the outstanding trainer of the day saddling PURE TEMPTATION the winner of the feature XXVII Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup (GR.I. - INT. - BAR) and PRIMED 'N' LOADED the winner of one of the other supporting features, the V Sandy Lane Sprint Stakes (GR.I. - BAR) Clarke also won the third race with THE WELSH WIZARD and the sixth race with ARM CANDY.

Trainer Boston John was the only other trainer to saddle more than one winner as he saddled the winner of the first and last races on the card.

Once again Sandy Lane Gold Cup day attracted a big crowd who certainly enjoyed some very close and exciting finishes through the day.

Payments were outstanding throughout the day, with the superfecta in the feature race paying a whopping $8,390.50.

Racing continues On March 15, 2008 when the Barbados Turf Club will pay tribute to the Champions of 2007 and honor  Jean Blondin a long standing patron who recently passed away.