Valiant a big threat
Boxing Day is one of the biggest days in the horse-racing calendar and plenty of eyes today will be on debut winner Valiant.
Valiant, with jockey Rickey Walcott in the steels, lurks as a massive threat to the most exciting two-year-old, Nostradassa. This pair headlines the clash of the leading sophomores in the 5 p.m. featured Crown of Light Boxing Day Stakes today at the historic Garrison Savannah.
Presented by Diamonds International, this 1 570-metre spectacle looks like a clear two-horse affair.
Owned by Gerry Alleyne and Mr Arjay, and trained by Robert Peirce, Valiant will carry an impost of 121 pounds.
The two-year-old colt by Demarchelier out of Love Daddy made an impressive appearance over today’s distance when capturing the Pick 4 Mega Ball Trophy on Independence Day, getting home from in front by six lengths. The distance favours Valiant, which showcased his staying ability with a rather easy triumph on a surface with a tinge of greenness.
This will be one of Peirce’s main weapons on the Boxing Day At The Races card as he looks to overtake Andrew Nunes, who will start the Diamonds International-sponsored day in pole position for the trainers’ championship.
Mr Arjay looks a sure winner, as he also owns Nostradassa, which will carry 116 pounds and will be ridden by Rey Williams.
The Richard Deane charge has simply been devastating lately, winning three of her four races. All have been sprint events and this daughter of Aston Martin out of The Price Is Right won her first two races by a combined four and threequarter lengths. After losing to the super impressive import Enisa, Nostradassa responded with a rousing nine-length success in the 1 100-metre Express Cash Barbados Thoroughbred Breeders Association Breeders Stakes & Trophy. In doing so, she continued her domination of
Decoursey and Mandarin Oriental, both of which she defeated in her first two races.
A win today for Nostradassa as she stretches out for the first time will cement
her status as the cream of the two year olds.
Leading sophomores
Over the last two years, Deane had the leading sophomores in Indelible and Mercedes, respectively.
Decoursey, which will bear an impost of 121 pounds, is by Mr Brook out of Leslie K. The colt followed up his two second places from debut with a one-and-a-half length triumph when sprinting 1 000 metres. Among his victims in that Garrison Road event for two-year-old maidens was Heidi Marie.
In his next start, Decoursey failed to trouble an easy winner in
Nostradassa, which makes today’s task a hard one.
Mandarin Oriental (121 pounds) handed in his maiden tag when he captured the Parnaseus Belle Emerald City Trophy) for maidens travelling 1 100 metres, crossing the line three and a half lengths in front.
Also sired by Aston Martin but out of Derby winner Leave It To Me, this gelding should relish the extra distance but needs to improve further.
Heidi Marie (116 pounds) showed the benefit of the longer trip when putting in her best effort to be a distant second behind Valiant on November 30. This daughter of Copy That out of Sea Gypsy should give a good account but will likely still be a maiden at the end of this race.
MY PICKS
Race 1: Dorcas Race 2: Mumbai
Race 3: Riverwon Race 4: Moondust
Race 5: Malala Race 6: Valiant
Race 7: Hotstepper Race 8: Dancing Prospector
(Lindon Yarde)
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