Over $20M is up for the taking today at the fifth annual Guyana Cup horse race meet at the Port Mourant Turf Club and according to word coming out of Jumbo Jet Auto Sales, organizers of the meet, nothing has been left to chance for the 11:00 hours start
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Further, the organisers said that it is one of the highest paid meets on the horse racing calendar. It was noted in a press release that many overseas horses and jockeys have already arrived for today’s meet.
“Never before has so much been paid out in a one-day sporting event in Guyana. Already the Grand Stand has been rehabilitated and extended to accommodate the thousands who are expected to throng the venue on race day.
“The venue has also been spruced up to cater for the absolute comfort of all. Thousands of visitors and overseas-based Guyanese are at home and will be making the trip to the venue,” according to the release.
Eleven races are carded for the day up to press time yesterday and over 100 horses had been registered for the event. In addition over 100 stables are now available at the venue, owing to the 30 recently built or refurbished stalls.
On the other hand, the starting gates have been completely rehabilitated with four new slots to cater for 16 starters.
Meanwhile the A Class race will be the feature event with $4M and the Guyana Cup trophy will be the winner’s prize. The event has all the top runners registered so far: Sabrina’s Princess, Champtress, Grande Roja, Zelik, Miss Orientate, King Maker, Pinch de Cash, Fairy Landing, Prince Charming, The Message, Marathon Man, Who’s on the Case, Donut Prince, Home Bush Baby, Tiger Prospect and Stormy Flame.
The distance is 1800m and already Champtress is the favourite with her two feature wins in three races.
The unbeaten Better than Gold will continue its battle with Big Impact, Captain Cook, Bridle Stone Corner, Gold Plated, Northern Dancer, Swinging Envy, Technology and Celebrating Love for top honours in the co-feature Three-year-old event for horses bred and born in Guyana and the West Indies. That race has a top prize of $1.5m over a distance of 1500m.
The West Indies bred Two-year-old event has already seen the likes of Serenity, Big Red, Times Have Changed, Red Cloud, Windy War, Settle in Seattle, Princess Haya, Come Dance with Me, Rosetta and Flying in the Park for the $1M bacon and trophy in the 1000m sprint.
The E class and Lower 1500m race will see the victor taking away the $800,000 top prize and trophy. Set to go are Night Crescendo, Tropical Passion, Jen’s Pride, Majestic, Delmur Gold and Home Bush Baby.
The animals in the F class race, which has a winner’s price tag of $700,000 and trophy for the 1000m sprint, will see Dubai Duchess, an early favourite, Technology, Mamzelle, Tropical Passion, Top of the Line and Appealing Harvest going for glory.
Also, the top Three-year-old runners bred and born in Guyana have so far entered to continue their battle for supremacy. Super Cat, Wicked Intention, Princess Renuka and Apostle are the current front runners in the $600,000 and trophy prize race over 1200m.
Other events are: the G and Lower 1000m for $500,000 and trophy; the Two-year-old event for Guyana bred horses, which also has a price tag of $500,000, for the winner; the H and Lower 1200m for $400,000; the I and Lower 1200m race for $200,000 and the $150,000 I and Lower maiden event over a distance of 1200m.
On the other hand, overseas-based Guyanese Sunny Singh, just off of a successful tour as a jockey in his adopted Canada is expected home along with Michael Semple, Krishna Singh and James Liverpool.
They will be throwing down the gauntlet against top local riders Rupert Ramnauth, Daniel Flores, Prem Chandra, Kevin Paul, Sancho, Yap Drepaul, who has won the last four feature races, Navin Ally, Nacimento, Mahendra Sukhoo, Winston Apadhu and apprentices Mark Vassey and Krishna Singh.
Jamaican jockey Andron Findlay has been in Guyana for some time. However, top jockeys Paul Delph and overseas-based Colin Ross will not be a part of the day’s activities due to injury.
The champion jockey, along with the runner-up, stable and champion trainer will all be presented with accolades, compliments of West Indian Sports Complex.
Entries closed on August 16 at the Bush Lot Office, West Coast Berbice.
