King of the Sport! Champtress (outside left), ridden by jockey Kumar Singh, showing his class to "head" home in the feature C ‘3’ and Lower event (Photo by Rajiv Bisnauth)
Khamptress, of the Simply Royal stable, was in a category all by itself when it whipped a top class field to score a big win and take top honours in the feature C ‘3’ and Lower class event when the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and Rising Sun Turf Club held its one-day horse race meeting at the Rising Sun Turf Club’s track at Arima Park on the West Coast Berbice on Sunday, August 28.
The feature event saw eleven animals leaving the gate in an even break; with Grande Roja, Marathon Man and Zelik taking up front running; but Champtress picked its stride in the bunch.
U.S-based Guyanese jockey Kumar Singh decided to let the animal go, giving it full rein as it set a searing pace down the back stretch. By then the field was wide open.
Coming into the homestretch, Champtress was still gathering speed; and with jockey Singh showing his brilliance in the stirrups, the animal was able to romp home by about one length. The win was worth the Banks DIH Limited’s Gy$1 million and the President’s Trophy in the 1600m race.
Grande Roja of the Jumbo Jet stable held off the field for a well deserved second, with Marathon Man third.
Pinch-De-Cash, running out of the Rumors stable, tore a big chunk out of the proceedings with victory in the E and Lower class race when jockey Kumar Singh, aboard once again, showed his class as he guided his charge to victory to take the Gy$500,000 and the Minister of Health’s Trophy. The Bailiff was second, ahead of Appealing Harvest.
The Three-year-old event for horses born and bred in Guyana and the West Indies was won by Captain Crook of the Jumbo Jet stable, as it blistered a top class field, winning Gy$500,000 and the Donald Ramotar Trophy over a distance of 1600m.
The G and Lower showdown saw the brilliance of Jamaican jockey Finley, who guided his charge, Prado Gold of the Hasrat Ali stable, for a close victory that was worth Gy$400,000 and the Minister of Sport Trophy over 1100m. The Work Force, The Gap, Zelona, Face the Music, South Sea, Damascus Dream, Maya, Top of the Line, Miracle Run, La Ruffian and Work Force had to be contented with the other places.
There were two races for the two-year-old horses. The first was for those born and bred in the West Indies. This race was won by Serenity, of the Chattergoon stable. The winner galloped away with Gy$400,000 and the Cadogan Trophy over the 1100m distance. Serenity, Happy Choice, and Rock Sona took the other top positions.
The other two-year-olds’ 1100m race, for Guyana born and bred horses was won by Blessings from the Shepherd stable. The winning prize was worth Gy$300,000 and was accompanied by the RPA Trophy.
Dream Girl burned up her opponents in the H and Lower class event to take the Gy$220,000 prize and the Chatterpaul Deo Trophy.
There were also two I Class events, the first being for animals classified ‘I’ and Lower, which was won by Royal Salute owned by A. Baksh of Branch Road, Mahaicony. The winner made off with Gy$180,000 and the Shairaz Bacchus Trophy.
The other “I” class event was for horses classified I ‘3’ and Lower, and that race was won by Mona Lisa of the Crawford stable. The win was worth Gy$140,000 and the George Stuart Trophy. Both races were run over a distance of 1100m.
Get Set Go of the Jumbo Jet stable won the C ‘3’ and Lower event, to take home the Gy$600,000 first prize and the Minister of Finance’s Trophy.
Also on the day’s programme was the Division 1, 11 and 111 Special Weight Class, which was won by Flying Object owned by Whitney Isaacs of Hopetown, WCB. The win was worth Gy$100,000.
Jockey Brian Harding of Trinidad and Tobago was adjudged Champion Jockey. He received his accolades compliments of the Trophy Stall.
A fair-sized crowd attended the day’s event. The day’s proceedings saw over 100 horses taking part and over Gy$10 million being up for grabs.
