JUDGING from the returns they have been experiencing over the past two months, no one would have expected the Jumbo Jet Stables to dominate the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) organized Post Emancipation horse race meeting, last Sunday, at the club’s Bush Lot, Corentyne track. Their fortunes changed from the sixth race on that programme, when Joshua Steven rode Princess Alisha to a commanding victory over her stable mates ‘It’s my Turn’ and Another Jet (and not Gypsy Jet as was mistakenly printed on the programme), to take the Two year old event that covered a distance of five furlongs and with it, the $400,000 cheque and Clear Water trophy.
The scenes of jubilation that followed was nothing in comparison to how the stable hands, owner and family connections of Got to Go celebrated, when Kiran Razack piloted her across the finish line to take the feature event for horses classified B and Lower and covered a distance of seven furlongs, as they knew they had returned to their winning ways, even as they collected the Carib Beer trophy and $1.5M cash prize.
The victory was not as easy as it looked, as Razack was forced to overcome a strong challenge from Dubai Duchess, Technology, and race favourite Marathon Man, who also came from the Jumbo Jet Stables and was heavily favoured to take the event, according to Nasrudeen Mohamed Jnr.
“I never expected ‘Got to Go’ to win this race, we all expected Marathon Man to win it and that was based on the work being shown by Marathon Man during the training sessions, but a win is a win and we are all happy today” said Mohamed Jnr.
The race was reduced from a one mile event to seven furlongs, due to the soggy condition of the track in certain areas and as they passed the grand stand for the first time, Dubai Duchess, which had Colin Ross in her saddle, made a move to front as they approached the first turn.
Winston Appadoo, who was later named Champion Jockey for the meeting, piloted Donut Prince on the inside, while Razack looked for room to maneuver his charge through the 11 horse field and only got some daylight, on the second turn, which saw the horses going up the back stretch with tremendous speed.
Razack called on ‘Got to Go’ for more speed and she responded positively, increasing her lead to two and half lengths over the chasing pack, one that was never relinquished as she passed the pole ahead of Technology, who stormed back to take second, Marathon Man and Dubai Duchess.
The day’s event got off to a start that won’t be forgotten by the executives of the oldest horseracing club in Guyana, as controversy reigned over the second, third and fourth placed finishers of the G and Lower seven furlongs race.
There was no doubt as to who the winner was, as Appadoo piloted Bridal Stone Corner to a convincing one length victory over the field and while the judges were deliberating who came second, a protest was lodged by Therbhuwan Jagdeo, from the Jagdeo Racing Stables and trainer of Celebrating Love.
That horse was ridden by Kieron Blake from Jamaica, who told the stewards he had passed Prado’s Gold and bold Romance on the inside, a mere 15 metres before the line, a fact that was denied by the stewards who did not have the horse in their photo finish, but was later confirmed by one of the track officials.
Following several debates as to who would be awarded the second place prize, Honorary President of the KMTC and Retired Chancellor of the Judiciary Cecil Kennard took the bold decision to declare the other three places a dead heat, leaving the connections for the horses to share the prize.
Appadoo made it two out of two, when he piloted Mona Lisa to a gate to pole victory in the I2 and Lower event from Pick Pocket which was ridden by Raj Drepaul, Silver Kid who had Mc Pherson in his saddle and Hard Runnings, to take the $200,000 prize and Digicel trophy.
Yhap Drepaul also had a gate to pole victory aboard Prince Bayaya in the third race, handing the horse’ connections the $150,000 and EZjet trophy in the process, as he defeated Smartie Light with Appadoo, Lucky Gamble which was ridden by his son Raj Drepaul and Windy Killer in the process.
Razack had the opportunity to pull off an upset in the fourth event which catered for Two year old Guyana bred horses, when he piloted She is So Special to the front of the five horse field over five furlongs.
They led from the gate to approximately 100 metres from the pole, until Raj Drepaul who was aboard Party Time took the lead and eventually the race from Silent Night with Appadoo in the saddle and Silent Night third, while Summer Breeze trailed in fourth.
Blake gave the Sheriff Racing Stables something to shout about, when he steered Dubai Duchess to a comfortable victory over Swing Easy, Work Force and Captain Cook in the E and Lower six furlongs event which was sponsored by Demerara Distillers Limited through their El Dorado brand of rum and had a first place prize of $400,000 up for grabs.
Yhap Drepaul seemed set to overtake Appadoo for the Champion Jockey award, when he won the H and Lower six furlongs race while on board Third World, with Sir Balajie, Quincy My Darling and Wicked Intentions rounding off the top four positions.
With the light fading, Blake took Settle in Seattle to a gate to pole and two lengths victory over Serenity that was ridden by Razack, Rosetta and ‘Come Dance with Me’ respectively, in the penultimate race of the day.
However, it was Razack who had the final laugh, when he steered ‘Got to Go’ home, even as the sun was setting in the Western side of the sky, but not on the faces of the horse connections whose bright smile would have chased away dark clouds on a cloudy day.
While Appadoo was named the champion jockey, the Jumbo Jet Stables had more reason to smile, as they were declared the Champion Stable, an announcement that brought a loud ‘yeah’ from their stable hands and connections.