By Emmerson Campbell
Elle’s Vision sent horse racing fans at the packed Port Mourant Turf Club into a frenzy yesterday as the four-year-old filly galloped to claim victory in the sixth annual Guyana Cup feature `B’ and Lower 1400m (seven furlongs) event.
The Miami, Florida-based thoroughbred, which was ridden by jockey Paul Delph, took control of the race on the homestretch and ran away from the field of 14 other horses to pocket the $3m first prize.
Marathon Man of Jumbo Jet Stables sped off with the $1.5m second prize while Dubai Duchess, ridden by Jamaican jockey Kevin Clarke, had to settle for the $750,000 third place prize.
The Message of Colin Elcock’s Stables pocketed the fourth place prize of $375,000. In the co-feature, three-year-old event for horses bred and born in Guyana and the West Indies, Blake, however did not settle for a runner up position as he guided Settle In Seattle to victory.
The first prize of two million dollars went to Shariff Racing Stable owners of Settle In Seattle.
Windy War of the Jagmohan Stables placed second and carted off the one million dollar prize while Serenity and Rosetta both of Jumbo Jet Stables won $500,000 and $250,000 for finishing third and fourth respectively. Blake, who was adjudged the champion jockey, had earlier in the day guided Dubai Duchess to an easy win in the `E’ and Lower category. Shariff Stables, who also own Dubai Duchess, was rewarded with a $900,000 first prize. Bailiff, ridden by R. Drepaul crossed the finish line in second position while Technology and Work Force occupied the second and third positions respectively.
Celebrating Love, which was also ridden by Jockey Clarke, sped off with the first prize of $700,000 in the `G’ and Lower race while Bridle Stone Corner, Captain Crook and The Bailiff crossed the line in second, third and fourth places respectively.
Its My Turn also of the Jumbo Jet’s Stables, took the top honours ahead of Gold Rush, Princess Alisha and Gold Princess and subsequently ran off with the one million dollar first prize for the two-year-old Open event for horses bred and born in Guyana and the West Indies.
Meanwhile, other winners for Guyana’s premier horse racing event which rewarded the owners with a total $30m in prize money included Savion (I and Lower) of M.C. Crawford Stables, Silent Night (Two Year Old Guyana Bred) of R. Persaud Stables, Face The Heat (J,K,L and Lower) of R. Grey Stables, Third World (H and Lower) of N. Quinn Stables and War Craft (G 3 and Lower) also of M.C. Crawford Stables.
Co-ordinator, Melissa Chattergoon dubbed this year’s staging of the event a huge success and assured that next year’s seventh edition will be even more lucrative.
Sponsors for the event included Jumbo Jet Auto Sales, Banks DIH Limited, Digicel, Hand-in-Hand Insurance and other major companies.
