‘Work Force’ a force to be reckoned with in the horseracing circle

Apr 11, 2012 Sports

By Samuel Whyte
By name and nature the animal Work Force is definitely a force to be reckoned

Mrs. Chandrawatie Vibert receiving the winning trophy after a recent event.

with in the horseracing circle in Guyana and overseas based Guyanese Mr Desmond Vibert must be a happy man if not one of the happiest horse owners around.
Of recent the name Work Force has quickly come to prominence in the horseracing circle in Guyana and owner and trainer Mr Desmond Vibert is not surprised. Back Home on holiday and speaking to Kaieteur Sports from his home in Plantation Hope (Bath) West Coast Berbice, Vibert who resides in England with his wife Chandrawatie, a nurse and three sons, was happy to speak about his animal’s one horse’s crusade and recent dominance.
He stated that his family actually grew up into horseracing, but after a while he fell out of the game. He decided to return and has done so with a bang. He has been back into the sport for about six years. Horseracing is an expensive sport and to get in the game and be on top you have to have top class horses. And one of his animals, World Class, which he acquired from the Colin Elcock stable, was one of the top animals a few years ago. That animal won two races in one day. He has owned a few other horses, but they were not as successful.
However Work Force is making him a force to be reckoned in the horseracing circle with six wins to its name already. Vibert is presently working on acquiring a few more class animals to boost his stable. He stated that he is in constant contact with Dr Dwight Walrond and popular racehorse owner Colin Elcock.
Purchased as a two years old animal from another popular horse owner and importer, Romel Jagroop and sourced from Trinidad, the animal now four years old has quickly moved up the ranking and is now Classified G1. It is presently campaigning in the E, G and Four Year old categories and is capable of competing in both the sprints and distance races.
Although overseas, Vibert stated that he is the very involved in the daily training and upkeep of his animal. He and a friend overseas will keep in touch with the stable on a daily basis and would use the Social Network Skype to be informed. “I will have to see the animal daily using Skype, before it go and train and even after it returns, I will view it on Skype. I will tell the grooms and trainers what kind of feed, training, how much distance etc, after they are finish I will have to see the horse how it looks and gave further instructions.” The stable in his absence is headed by his brother Raymond Deodat Vibert. He makes sure that everything is in order including the responsibility for purchasing feed, medication etc.
Vibert will return home at least twice yearly to tend to his stable and participate in the sport. The relaxed horse owner who is also a cattle farmer stated that he would usually attend races when in England at the Grand National which is not far from where he stays. Ironically it was at one of those meets that he noticed a particular horse named Work Force doing its work and he decided that he will name his animal Work Force a decision he has relished. Vibert stated that he is on a mission to the top and plans to increase his stable by acquiring one or two more top quality animals, presently he as a number of animals on fold.
The animal on most occasions has been among the money whenever it races and by now, even as the name alone would suggest, it is accustomed to being in the top echelons whenever it races. Improving all the time the horse is looking to dominate and its spot in the winning enclosure.
Not too often a one horse would dominate the racing circle and according to Vibert somehow he knew this animal will be a champion. Vibert stated that he has picked up a few tricks from his many years in the trade and from his sojourn overseas.
In its last encounter on the race track at the Norman Singh Memorial Turf Club just recently, the animals created a major upset by going up in class to take the E class event from its more illustrious opponents. It then returned to place second in the very competitive four year old event. In the last three meets it ran four races with three consecutive victories starting with a victory at the Kennard Memorial Turf Club, and then it returned two weeks later to take the feature event at the Ryan Crawford turf Club meet. Then like a real ‘Work Force’ the racehorse returned a week later to destroy its rivals to race away with the E class event which was worth $600,000 and trophy.
From recent results Work Force is definitely on a mission to work to the top weather by class or force.