Fleurette chalks up fourth win in day’s feature race

THE Luther Miller III & Susanne Miller-owned 3-year-old bay filly, Fleurette, easily won the feature 2017 Grandstand Posse & Bubba’s Sports Bar Classic Trial, for West Indian Bred 3-year-olds, going 1570 metres, yesterday at the Garrison Savannah, the fifth day of the Barbados Turf Club’s first racing season for 2017.

This Sir Charles Williams-bred filly, who is by Zwick out of Highland Miss (Happy Boy), left the gates like an express train, and passing the stands for the first time she had Black Rock and Celebrity Star for company.

Going up the back straight she looked like she was running in cruise control, while the others could not make any impression on her.

Turning for home she had no threats, and went on to an easy gate-to-wire victory. Finishing second was the Gay Smith-owned, Edward Walcott Jr-trained Butterfly, ridden by Antonio Bishop. Celebrity Star, owned by Mervyn Rollins and trained by Victor Cheeseman, with Jalon Samuel in the irons, finished third; with D’Girlz Dem Sugar, fourth.

Trainer Victor Cheeseman is no stranger to winning ‘Classic’ races in his short training career, and once again it looks like he has another ‘Classic’ winner in the making, as this filly is very versatile. She is capable of performing well at any distance, on any ground, and from on the pace, or off the pace.

The supporting feature was the Grand Stand Posse Blue Sails Trophy (Handicap) for 4-year-olds and older rated 115 and below, going 1570 metres.

This was won by the Sir David Seale-owned Marcus Antonius, trained by Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Deane and ridden by Renshawn Latchman. This horse was off for just short of a year, and immediately returned to the winning enclosure. His trainer, Liz Deane, has to be congratulated for bringing him back at the top of his form after such a long layoff. Stable companion Daunting David, ridden by Anderson Trotman, was second; while the Gay Smith-owned Knight Rider, trained by Edward Walcott Jr and ridden by Antonio Bishop, was third.

Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Deane was the most successful trainer of the day landing three winners, with her charges also finishing first and second in races seven and nine. Trainer Victor Cheeseman landed two winners on the card.

Anderson Trotman had the honours of the day among the jockeys, as he booted home three winners; while Jalon Samuel landed two winners.

Racing continues on Saturday, March 4, Sandy Lane Gold Cup Day. (CH)