Even if it was just for one day, Just Call Me Boss was in charge of all local thoroughbreds.
Yesterday, the dark brown gelding galloped to a gate to pole victory in the feature D and Lower, seven furlong event of the Shariff Memorial fixture staged at the Rising Sun Turf Club.
With Trinidadian jockey, Nicholas Patrick in the stirrups, the champion race horse of the K. Jagdeo Racing Stables, sent turfites at the club’s track into a frenzy as he sprinted to an upset victory over some of Guyana’s premier trotters including the KMTC Boxing Day event winner, Spit Fire who played second fiddle.
Fans were buzzing with excitement in anticipation of a victory for the favourite, but the gelding trampled the pre-race hype and expectations to win the season opener and pocket the appetizing $1.2M first prize and the large glistening champion’s trophy compliments of Banks DIH Limited.
Here is how the race unfolded: Just Call Me Boss set a blistering pace straight out the gate and established himself as the early pacesetter. Third place finisher, Diplomatic Cat then changed gears to close the gap on the leader, pulling along Goodwill Boy and Spit Fire in the gallop.
Ridden by champion jockey Colin Ross, Spit Fire moved into contention down the final stretch but could not sustain its run to catch the flying gelding.
Just Call Me Boss got a late split on the rails and dived through to score the victory by two lengths.
Spit Fire’s handlers would not be too disappointed since he pocketed the $600,000 second place winnings. Half that amount went to Diplomatic Cat’s owners for finishing third.
The Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) first event of the season was held in memory of the late Mohamed ‘Nankoo’ Shariff.
‘Nankoo’, the former head honcho of the Shariff Racing Stables, passed away in the United States of America last month after a brief illness. He was a prominent racehorse owner, trainer, breeder, importer and promoter for many decades.
Before the feature event, there were other races.
Here is a summary of them:
Race 1-E and Lower (1100m)
Precise Gold ($400,000)
Storm Bird
Appealing Harvest.
Race 2-H2 and Lower (1400m)
Quiet Storm ($220,000)
Cat Messiah
Weekend Surprise
Princess Maya
Race 3-Land Lower (1100m)
Red Region ($100,000)
Blue Lightning
Fit to Fight
Turn About
Race 4-J and Lower (1100m)
Affinity ($180,000)
De Gump
Massaquada Dr.
Race 5-G and Lower (1400m)
Settling Star ($300,000)
It’s My Choice
Campador
Bridlestone Corner
