King Maker reigned supreme in the feature B Class event of the Digicel Classic Horse Race, running away with the $1.2M prize when the meet was held on Sunday at the Norman Singh Memorial Turf Club in West Coast, Berbice.
King Maker, from the Kris Jagdeo stable, created an upset reminiscent of when Champtress upset the field at a pre-Caricom day meet at Port Mourant. The “Black Berry Storm” 1600m had a line-up including The Message, Zelik, Night Crescendo, Fairy Landing, Champtress and Marathon Man.
There was a battle for the lead from the time the horses broke the gate but as they hit the homestretch the two frontrunners were King Maker, ridden by Jockey Rupert Ramnauth and Champtress. King Maker came up from the outside of Champtress and was unstoppable thereafter, followed by Champtress, Zelik and Marathon Man respectively.
The ‘Black Berry Gold’ three-year-old Classic co-feature for horses bred an
d born in the West Indies was won by Swing Easy, ridden by Daniel Flores, of the Sheriff Racing Stable. Swing Easy had a strong finish, copping the $600,000 winner’s prize and the Digicel trophy ahead of favourites Irish Girl, Face the Fire and Captain Cook in the 1600m race. Jumbo Jet stable’s Appealing Harvest, which is trained by Sham ‘Shot Man’ Chattergoon and ridden by Andron Findley, won the F class 1200m race, $500,000 and the Digicel trophy. Bob’s Fortune, The Bailiff and Pinch the Cash rounded out the money. Windy War, of the Jagroop stable and mounted by Ramnauth, waged war on the two-year-old West Indies bred horses and carted off $450,000 and the Digicel trophy; Princess Haya, of The Elcock Stable, Pride and Joy and Red Cloud were second, third and fourth respectively.
In the 1400m G class race, Top of the Line, ridden by Yap Drepaul ran off with the top prize of $400,000 and a trophy. The horse, from the Jumbo Jet stable, was followed by Stormy Lass, Pegasus Rising and South Sea. Ramnauth got another win but this time on the back of Super Cat, in a close encounter with Wicked Intention and Princess Renukha. In the end it was Super Cat by a neck over Wicked Intention, taking the $250,000 first prize and Digicel trophy over a distance of 1200m. Blessings, of the Shepherd stable, ran off with the $400,000 first prize and trophy for animals classified I-3 for non starters and unplaced two-year-olds. Baby Flyer, Speed Girl and News Time also placed in the 1000m sprint event. De Lyon roared to victory ahead of Savion, Monalisa II and Infinity in the I-1 and lower race for the $180,000 first prize and trophy.
Meanwhile, Apostle, of the Wayne Nelson stable, was in control of the I-3 race for horses that won one race and non-winners. The win was worth $170,000 and a trophy. Black Tricks of the Shaker stable and ridden by Navin Alli won the JKL class race, pocketing $150,000 and trophy.
At the close of the races Ramnauth was named the champion jockey; Jumbo Jet was adjudged the best stable while Deonarine ‘Black Boy’ Ramroop took the champion trainer award. The top performers were presented with cash and trophies compliments of Digicel and the Trophy Stall, Bourda Market.
