Slingerz Racing adds Brazilian G1 performer VITRUVIAN to formidable Guyana Cup arsenal

Aug 18, 2026 Sports

Kaieteur Sports – Slingerz Racing Stable is turning up the heat ahead of the 18th running of the Guyana Cup, adding another proven Brazilian campaigner to an already formidable lineup as the stable seeks to reclaim the prestigious title on August 23 at the Rising Sun Turf Club.

Stable owner Javed Ali has confirmed that VITRUVIAN, a five-year-old Brazilian-bred campaigner, will join 2024 Guyana Cup champion Olympic Kremlin and Guyana Cup debutant Olympic National as Slingerz Racing’s major weapons for the feature Banks Guyana Cup.

With the competition expected to be fierce, Ali said Slingerz Racing had little choice but to strengthen an already well-stocked stable if it is to regain the crown it surrendered last year.

“We know the other stables would have also made moves and brought in formidable horses, so we had to go above and beyond to put ourselves in the best possible position to reclaim the title,” Ali said.

Ali acknowledged that 2025 was a disappointing Guyana Cup for Slingerz Racing, but stressed that the stable has moved beyond that setback and is now focused squarely on August 23.

VITRUVIAN brings significant credentials to the Slingerz lineup.

The five-year-old has competed at the highest level of Brazilian racing, including Group 1 (G1) competition, the top classification in the Brazilian racing system.

Slingerz Racing adds Brazilian G1 performer VITRUVIAN to formidable Guyana Cup arsenal

VITRUVIAN will be making his Guyana Cup debut for Slingerz Race.

His record includes victories in the G1 Grande Prêmio J. Adhemar de Almeida Prado over 1,600 metres and a second-place finish in the G1 Grande Prêmio Presidente da República, also over 1,600 metres.

His most recent performance further strengthens his credentials.

On August 1 at the Hipódromo da Gávea in Rio de Janeiro, VITRUVIAN finished second in a 13-horse field, producing another strong performance over 1,600 metres.

The result came just weeks before his expected Guyana Cup appearance and underlines his current form.

Ali believes the horse’s affinity for the mile makes him particularly suited to the Banks Guyana Cup, which will be contested over one mile (1,600 metres).

The Brazilian import is not, however, expected to carry the entire burden of Slingerz Racing’s challenge.

Ali believes Olympic Kremlin, Olympic National and VITRUVIAN are all capable of winning the Guyana Cup, giving the stable three legitimate options for the sport’s biggest prize.

“At the end of the day, all three horses are capable of winning the Guyana Cup,” Ali said. “But we also have to be realistic. Other stables have added some very formidable horses, so we are cautiously optimistic. We know it will not be easy.”

Olympic Kremlin will return to the scene where he established himself as one of Guyana’s premier thoroughbreds, having captured the 2024 Guyana Cup for Slingerz Racing.

Olympic National, meanwhile, adds another Brazilian connection to the stable. The horse has already raced successfully at Gávea, including a victory in the Much Better Classic over 1,900 metres in November 2025.

Slingerz Racing has also strengthened its sprinting ranks with the acquisition of Calypso Queen, a two-year-old filly from Miami who is set to make her racing debut in Guyana.

Ali said Calypso Queen was foaled in 2024 and is bred from Authentic, the sire, and Gadabout, the dam.

“She comes from a solid racing background, so we made the investment. This will be Calypso Queen’s first ever race,” Ali said.

While Calypso Queen is not expected to feature in the Banks Guyana Cup, her arrival represents another investment by Slingerz Racing in strengthening its stable across different categories.

The Guyana Cup itself is shaping up as one of the biggest editions in the event’s history. The 18th staging will feature a 14-race programme with more than G$66 million in cash and prizes at stake, including a G$22.5 million purse for the Banks Guyana Cup, which will be run over one mile.

The programme also includes the G$7.5 million Peter Lewis Guyana Cup Sprint and the G$7.5 million Forrester’s Imported Derby, adding depth to a race day expected to attract the country’s leading owners, trainers, jockeys and horses.

Defending champion Dataman is expected to headline the opposition as he seeks to retain the crown, ensuring that Slingerz Racing’s challenge will face formidable resistance.

For Ali and Slingerz Racing, however, the attention remains firmly on the track.

“We want to win,” he said. “We have put together horses that we believe can get the job done, but we also respect the competition. The other stables have prepared well, so we have to be at our best on the day.”

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