JUMBO Stables’ Grande Roja, ridden by Blake, upset the field to take the Kennard Memorial Turf Club’s (KMTC) B and Lower Class one mile race at the club’s annual Boxing Day horserace meeting held on Monday at their Bush Lot Corentyne track. A mere five horses, a far cry from what was expected for the feature event on the day’s 10-race programme, entered to do the battle for the $1M first prize sponsored by the Kharag Family, proud owners of Metro Computer and Office Supplies here in Guyana and New York.
While some of the country’s top horses including The Message from the Colin Elcock Stables among others did not compete, Face De Music also from the Elcock Stables did compete but found the music too hot to face in this event.
Get Set Go, also from the Jumbo Stables, went to the front and set the pace for the event and was followed by the eventual winner and What A Luck, but as they approached the penultimate turn for home, Blake called on his charge to produce one final surge and he did so, edging out Get Set Go, with What A Luck picking up the third place spot.
With five entries for the event, only the top three horses received cash prizes, according to the club’s rules for the event which was sanctioned by the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA), which means Get Set Go and What A Luck took home $500 000 and $250 000 respectively.
The day’s event got under way with Speed Vision which was piloted by N. Ali, taking home the I3 and Lower event from Miracle Silver, Natural Mystic and Nobody Knows respectively, while Blake took I Want Revenge across the finish line ahead of Watch My Shadow in the Two-Years-Old Guyana-bred event, the second of the day.
Yhap Drepaul tasted victory when he guided Whosoever past the pole ahead of Home Bush Baby which was ridden by Blake and Got to Go in the D and Lower class race followed by Prem Chandra’s victory aboard Modern Cowboy in the K and Lower event, ahead of Sporting Time, Smarty Light and Prince Baha’i respectively.
It was an easy race for Chandra when he steered Serenity past the finish line ahead of Settle in Seattle, Happy Choice and Rocksona in the Two-Year-Old West Indies-bred horses, which was followed by Mark Vossy’s win astride Funny Side and ahead of De Gump, Princess Renuka and Kevin in the I and Lower event.
Race Seven which was contested among horses ranked G and Lower, saw Top of the Line that was piloted by Daniel Floris, finish ahead of Miracle Run, Bridal Stone Corner and Prada’s Gold in that order.
Canada-based Guyanese Sunil Singh rode Technology to victory in the Three-Years- Old Guyana and West Indies-bred event ahead of Damascus Dream, Work Force and Face the Fire, while Rupert Ramnauth closed the curtain on the day’s event, with his win while being in the saddle of Royal Champion for the H and Lower Class race.
Wicked Intentions, Blessings and Prospective Pride finished second, third and fourth respectively and at the presentation ceremony which followed shortly after, Chandra was named the Champion Jockey with Blake who hails from Jamaica, occupying the runner-up spot. The Jumbo Stables took home the Champion Stable award.