Nekitta wins feature race at the Garrison Savannah

 

Yesterday was the final day of the Barbados Turf Club’s second racing season, and it was a day of thrills and spills.
 
The day’s feature race, the Sale Graduates’ Championship Stakes (WFA) for Barbados Bred 3-year-olds and older, going 1570 metres, saw only six horses face starter Mark Batson; but what a race it turned out to be.
 
As they left to go to the gate, Sirius Black, was the overwhelming favourite, at one time showing 0/5 odds on the board, and in the end drifting out to 2/5 – not surprising, as he has 13 wins and 14 seconds under his girth, including winning his last start eased down by Jalon Samuel.
 
In today’s race Samuel was replaced by apprentice Shane Collymore, a move that seemed to baffle many race fans, as there was no apprentice claim in the race, and one would have thought that Samuel would have retained the ride, but that was not to be.
 
Leaving the gates quickly, was Sirius Black, in company with the 3-year-old Stolen. These two raced in that order until approaching the four furlong marker, when Arrowhead picked up the running, followed by Sirius Black and Stolen, who was loosing ground.
 
With two furlongs to go, Sirius Black again picked up the race followed by Arrowhead, and the two led them into the home stretch. With half of a furlong to go, jockey Rickey Walcott appeared out of nowhere to challenge for the lead.
 
As they hit the line it was the Lewin Godding-owned, John Humphrey-bred, Nekitta, trained by Andy Ward, that hit the line first. It was a magnificent ride by Rickey Walcott. The Gay Smith-owned, Princess Tiana, trained by Edward Walcott Jn, and ridden by Affrie Ward, was second with Janak’s Gold third and Sirius Black fourth.
 
In the first supporting feature, the Sales Graduates’ Futurity Stakes (Condition Race) for Barbados Bred 2-year-olds, going 1570 metres, the Joanne Parravicino-owned, Burbon Street, bred by Bruce Bayley, trained by Roger Parravicino, and ridden by Rasheed Hughes, made it a gate-to-wire victory. Second was first time starter, Zip code, owned by Steve Samaroo, and trained by William Clarke. This was a fine effort by this young colt, who came from some 20 lengths behind the leaders with three furlongs to go, to capture second place. Third was Riddick, with Celebrity Star fourth.
 
The second supporting feature, the Sales Graduates’ Sprint Cup (Handicap) for Barbados bred 3-year-olds and older, going 1100 metres, was won by the Stephen Jardine and the Estate of Andrew Jardine owned, Apparition,bred by Stephen, and ridden by Antonio Perch, and trained by Boston John. the Steve and Allan Madoo owned, Run For Your Money, trained by Robert Peirce, and ridden by Jalon Samuel was second. Third was Woman Is Boss, and The Price Is Right, was fourth.
 
The riding of Jalon Samuel and Rickey Walcott was outstanding on the day, especially the ride that Walcott put down to win with Nekitta, and the ride that Samuel put down to win the Final Handicap, with Giovedi, that will more than likely go down as the ride of the season. Samuel finished with three wins and Walcott with two.
 
Trainer Anderson ‘Andy’ Ward was the trainer of the day, saddling three winners.
 
In race seven, the BTC Dash (Handicap), which was open to seven pound-claiming apprentice jockeys, five of them fell, but thankfully all waked away without injuries.
 
Racing takes a break for maintenance and will resume on Saturday, November 5. (CH)

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