Rachel, a racehorse to note

Aug 19, 2023 Sports

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Kaieteur Sports – RACHEL defeated in one of the three premier events on Guyana Cup day of racing, will be remembered for a very long when Guyana’s horse racing history is discussed.

The roan/grey three-year-old filly named after Rachel Alexandra, darling of the American racing circuit was beaten but not disgraced.  She was seen as a winner after a head bobbing battle entering the homestretch with Firecracker that had patrons and horsemen on their feet and in awe.

Rachel Alexandra is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse mare. She was named 2009 Horse of the Year. Rachel Alexandra won the 2009 Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown. She became the first filly to win the race in 85 years.

In the process the roan/grey ‘petit’ filly by Rock Moviestar/whose dam is an ‘un-named’ daughter of Kabila boosted the local breeding industry, despite her defeat.

As battling qualities and determined stretch battle with winner, Firecracker in Sunday’s 1,600-metre Associated Construction Derby Stakes run off at Rising Sun Turf Club (RSTC) gained her more respect than the winner.

The unofficial distance between winner, Firecracker, and runner-up Rachel was closer to a neck separating both horses.

It was on 15th renewal of Guyana Cup ten-race card and on a day that the country’s biggest social sporting event is held.

Her runner-up finish took her earnings for the season closer to $3 million.

This newspaper speaking to her owner/breeder, Bronso Cheefoon on the filly’s performance, name, and what helped, with her defeat that brought her respect, revealed, “She grew up as a young horse on plenty cow’s milk. I never used any imported supplements. The first time she raced was in last year’s President’s Cup.  She ran fourth. She met with a lot of interference in the race, and still managed to finish fourth.”

Cheefoon, pressed to find out why Rachel finished unplaced at the Port Mourant Race Club’s (PMTC) Derby on 30th July, 2023 over the same trip 1,600-metres, when in her previous start at PMTC she finished second to T&T-bred Gypsy King with Red Ruby third in that race.

The ecstatic Cheefoon responded, “It had a lot of rain, and we could not prepare her properly for that race. For this race, we got enough time to prepare her, and that race although well beaten, brought her on for this race. I knew she will run well, because going into the PMTC’s Derby race, we did not have enough time to train her. She is also a late foal horse, and is now strengthening up. I felt she could spring the surprise. Although beaten, that performance to me, she was a winner, not only for me, but for Guyana breeding industry. She won at Bush Lot, but Sunday’s performance will be remembered most by me, and the people of Guyana,”

Cheefoon on his advice to fellow breeders declared, “When you want to breed a good horse, send your mare to a good stallion, not any stallion, and not any mare. Get a good stallion, and give your mare and foal cow’s milk also. For me that is working.”

Sharing the story of Rachel’s name, Cheefoon related, “We were watching some American races, and saw Rachel Alexandra run, and my daughter suggested we name her Rachel Alexandra, but were advised that is a protected name. We could not use it, and named her Rachel, but it did not only start there. When she born, she was a dark/bay filly. We felt she resembled Rachel Alexander, and that is how she got the name, but her colour changed to grey as she grew older. Her sire is grey.”

Dad, John (70-year-old) reached on the success of his son’s Rachel, said, “My father use to always breed good horses. My brother and I took the same pattern. Now our ‘offsprings’ are doing the same. There was a time in Guyana’s racing several years ago, we had the best horses such as Flashmonger, who won 20 straight races, from 21 races. He was out of Carpetmonger/Humble Princess an ordinary mare. While my brother James had North Star, and we continued to breed horses.”

Veteran horseman, John, sharing his opinion on the development of the sport during his period to now, related, “Firstly we used to race two days, Saturday, and Sunday, so if your horse not fit enough it will come on for the next day (Sunday). It was nice at that time.”

He then heaped praise, “Now I see young (Nasrudeen) Mohamed jr is improving it, and it is going to get better. The young man is investing a lot of money in the sport for the benefit of the country, and the sport. The country has to support him, and not criticise him. Horse racing is team work, and the owners, breeders, sponsors, and patrons will benefit from his labour of love. In my time the late Uncle Sonny (Habibulla), Mr Crawford, and the late Judge Kennard were the people who saved it, and developed it.”

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• disgraced, Guyana Cup, horse, horsemen, Rachel Alexandra

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