Rickey Walcott piloting Nekitta to a win in the Diamonds International/Crown of Light Boxing Day Stakes & Trophy, for 3-year-olds and older, going 1570 metres, yesterday at the Garrison Savannah.
Nekitta wins the Diamonds International/Crown of Light Stakes & Trophy
Tue, 12/27/2016 - 12:00am
The feature race yesterday on the Barbados Turf Club’s final day of the 2016 racing season, went to the Lewin Godding owned, Mark Armstrong trained 6-year-old bay mare, Nekitta, who is by Feet On Flames out of Black Bird.
Leaving the gates quickly, was Lucky Adventure, with The G.DeVere Davis owned Joshua, trained by Boston John, with Antonio Bishop in the irons, with the Aysha Syndicate owned Just A Fashion, trained by Victor Cheeseman, with Jalon Samuel in the saddle in third.
These three contested the lead until reaching the three furlong marker, when Lucky Adventure started to come under pressure, and by the time they reached two furlongs out, it was Joshua and Just A Fashion, fighting for the lead, while Ricky Walcott on Nekitta, was beginning to close from off the pace.
With half of a furlong to go, the John Humphrey bred, Nekitta had the measure of Joshua, and went on to an eased down 4 1/2 length victory.
Just A Fashion finished second, with Jushua, third. Considering he had not raced for almost nine months he turned in an excellent performance.
The first supporting feature on the card was The Diamonds International/ Gift, for West Indian Bred 2-year-olds, going 1100 metres.
The Sir Geoffrey Cave, Stephen Bynoe, Stephen Walcott and Anthony King owned, Miss Megyn, trained by Stephen Bynoe and ridden by Ricky Walcott broke smartly to make it a gate to wire win. The Victor Syndicate owned , Robert Peirce trained Javalier, with Antonio Whitehall finished second with Cipriani third.
The next supporting feature on the card, was the FTBOA Boxing Day Juvenile Open Trophy for 2-year, going 1570 metres.
Leaving the gate quickly in this one was Fleurette, trying to also make it a gate to wire win, but with two and a half furlongs to go, she started to shorten, while Discreet Lass, owned by Bills Inc., trained by Victor Cheeseman, with Ricky Walcott in the irons, was beginning to really motor, as was the Meryn Rollins & Victor Cheeseman owned and trained Celebrity Star, with Antonio Bishop.
These two battled in the straight eye to eye, body to body, to the wire, where in the end Discreet lass, got the better and won. Island Cotton finished third.
Jockey Ricky Walcott was the star of the day, booting four winners. Anderson Trotman won two races.
Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Deane was the only trainer to saddle two winners on the card.
Racing continues on Monday January 2, 2017, when it will be the first day of the first racing season for 2017. (CH)