King Maker is king of the track at Norman Singh

Jul 26, 2011 Sports

---

– Swing Easy wins 3 year-old for WI Bred

Samuel Whyte

It lived up to all expectations, the hype was there, the scenario was created, the atmosphere was tense and the ground was packed with spectators perched on all available positions to get a glimpse of the action, at Sunday’s Digicel-sponsored One-day Horse Race Classic which was held at, Norman Singh Memorial Turf Club N0.6 Bel Air Park, West Coast Berbice.
Indeed the Meet was a classic and this was vindicated by some of the stunning upsets that were registered with the biggest coming in the day’s feature ‘B’ Class event when King Maker out of The Kris Jagdeo stable produced a storming homestretch run to crush the opposition to take the top prize.
The Blue Ribbon “Black Berry Storm 1600M event’ was a gem and lived up to its entire pre race billing with ten horses taking to the starting gates.
After an even break where the horses left the gates tightly bunched, The Message, Zelik, Night Crescendo and Fairy Landing, all previous winners, picked up the early running and despite the constant lead changes, the three continued their battle down the back stretch with the rest of the field in hot pursuit, but within range of mounting a challenge.
As the pace picked up, Champtress came into the reckoning near the far turn, while King Maker was eased into contention.
A virtual unknown, King Maker, who was imported from Jamaica and trained by Tribuwan ‘Turbo’ Jagdeo, campaigned in the ‘F’ Class, before coming to these shores.
Jockey Rupert ‘Put’ Ramnauth had tracked all the big names and watched them as they tore up the track in front of him, but he remained resolutely calm, biding his time to make his move.
As they turned for home the race still seemed wide open with Champtress, Zelik, Marathon Man and King Maker leaving the other horses in their wake.
Inside the two furlong marker, King Maker engaged Champtress and Zelik in a duel down the home stretch, but he displayed more speed and stamina and together with a strong hand ride from Ramnauth came home by two lengths to capture the first prize of $1.2M and a trophy. Champtress of the Deroop stable managed to hold on for second with Zelik third and Marathon Man coming in fourth.
The win by King Maker emphasized that there is no real undisputed champion in Guyana at the moment.
Prince Charming of the P&P Syndicate stable and trained by Colin Elcock was the last winner of back to back events.
Since then there were wins by Ferry Landing, Marathon Man, Champtress, Zelik and now King Maker.
Swing Easy of The Sheriff racing stable with Jockey Daniel Floris on the perch swung things in its favour with a classical finish to take the ‘Black Berry Gold’ Three Year old classic for horses bred and born in the West Indies from a very competitive field to take the $600,000 top prize and trophy for its first win from favourities Irish Girl Face The Fire and Captain Cook in the 1600M event.
The Jumbo jet stable got things rolling with a win in the day’s first event as Appealing Harvest trained by Sham ‘shot man’ Chattergoon with Jamaican Andron Findley on the hunch taking care of business in the F class 1200M event. By winning the event it took the $500,000 first prize and Digicel trophy on offer from Bob’s Fortune, The Bailiff and Pinch the Cash.
Windy War of the Jagroop stables and trained by Rommel Jagroop with Ramnauth on the mount won the war and battle for the two year old West Indies bred horses over 1100M as it carted off the $450,000 winner’s money and Digicel trophy from Princess Haya of The Elcock stable, Pride and Joy and Red Cloud.
Top of the Line of the Jumbo Jet stable trained by Sham Chattergoon with Yap Drepaul in the saddle was in top form as it won the G class 1400M event and the $400,000 first prize and Digicel trophy from another competitive field with Stormy Lass, Pegasus Rising and South Sea rounding out the money.
Super Cat of the Rommel Jagroop stable ridden by Ramnauth returned to winning ways as it won by the closest margin of the day in beating arch rivals Wicker Intention and Princess Renukha in a neck and neck battle in the event for three year old Guyana bred horses.
The win was worth $250,000 and Digicel trophy over 1200M.
With the top three 3 year old animals  in the event it  lived up to all  expectation with Super Cat and Wicked Intention going at each other  from start to finish, but in the end it was  Super Cat brilliantly ridden by Ramnauth that was able to nose ahead.    Blessings of the Shepherd stable and ridden by Richmond had a blessed day as it won the$ 400,000 first prize and trophy for horses classified 13 non starters an unplaced two year olds. Baby Flyer, Speed Girl and News time were the others that placed in the 1000M event.
De Lyon ridden owned and trained by Nascimento roared to victory ahead of Savion, Monilisa2 and Infinity in the I1 and lower race over 1200M for the $180,000 first prize and trophy.
Apostle of the Wayne Nelson Stable with Findley in control was the winner of the I3 event for horses that would have won one race and non winners.  The win was worth $170,000 and trophy over 1100M.
Black Tricks of the Shaker Stable with Navin Alli riding won the JKL race and the $150,000 money and trophy over 1200M.
Ramnauth was adjudge the champion jockey with The Jumbo Jet stable taking the champion jockey award and the Deonarine ‘Black Boy’ Ramroop taking the champion trainer award. The top performers were presented with cash and trophies compliments of Digicel and the Trophy Stall of Bourda market.
In all, a whopping $10M and over were available compliments of the telephone giants Digicel and some 103horses took entry for the day’s event.

---

---