Three horses – Abrumar, Public Sector and Smokin’ T – can flash past the winning pole in a thrilling blanket finish to today’s running of the 43rd Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup Grade 1, at the historic Garrison Savannah.
At around 5:45 p.m., before thousands of racing enthusiasts in a charged electric atmosphere, jockeys Rasheed Hughes, Jalon Samuel and Antonio Bishop should solve this riddle over 1 800 metres.
Call it the trifecta combination of the last three Gold Cup- winning jockeys, only just not in that order. This year’s field of ten horses almost looks evenly matched for the $316 500 purse and the Gold Cup, minted in Britain.
Several theories are available, however. Should one approach it from a jockey’s perspective, it looks hard to get away from the favourites. Abrumar with Hughes, the defending champion jockey in the irons was a determined winner of his last start when getting up by a half-length at Gulfstream Park.
He has the perfect draw – post position number two – and will get all the help from Hughes who has options of utilising a stalking method or pressed the pace style as he looks to add to two Gold Cup wins earned aboard Celestial Storm and Harrow.
Abrumar can expect the fight of his life as Gold Cup undisputed champion jockey Samuel, with six wins, will bring all his power, craft and illusion of invincibility astride Public Sector to the track for a seventh title.
The Hughes versus Samuel match-up is box office material that can be viewed as a heavyweight boxing clash. Melrose Stables are hoping the second time around will be the charm for Public Sector in the Gold Cup.
On Boxing Day, in his last run, Public Sector – with purposeful calculations – dismissed the top-class field nonchalantly under today’s rider and he is one to watch.
Third in last year’s event when shortening, he showed improvement following a visit to Woodbine. Despite failing to hit the board, he was competitive for a long time when traversing over 2 000 metres.
SMOKIN’ T (Bishop) carries the hopes of Gay Smith’s three-prong attack that includes Jerry The Nipper, who recently won the Coolmore Home Of Champions Stakes and Trophy and the 2024 Gold Cup winner Portfolio Company.
Benefit of inside draw Smokin’ T last year’s runner-up in the Gold Cup also occupied the same position in this year’s Coolmore. He has the benefit of an inside draw against the rail and if Bishop can produce a similar flawless ride like he did in the 2024 Gold Cup, the shocking pick outfit from St James will be in business.
A horse that should not be overlooked is One Guyana Racing’s Divin Propos who will have Australian-born United Kingdom-based jockey Tom Marquand in the irons.
Undoubtedly the class horse in the field, the distance could be too short for him as he has consistently delivered when going further. Marquand, with over 1 300 career wins, must be respected and they are live ammunition.
The others can be labelled outsiders. Jerry The Nipper with Damario Bynoe up, based on his preferred running style, will need to get to the lead from his outside draw.
If he achieves this, he will have to fight to the wire to win the Cup in his third attempt. It’s not impossible, but it’s asking a lot of him at nine-years-old.
Deccan Prince gets Rico Walcott, who returns from a fall and injury last September from Ready For The Top. His fitness level can be questioned but the connections faith in Walcott could be your guide.
Sir London, the second runner from One Guyana Racing, get the services of Rocco Bowen who was flown in for the ride. The pair is the least fancied in comparison to stablemate Divin Propos.
Bulldoze, with Kyle Carter up – who has not ridden since last October – will look to give trainer William Clarke his second Gold Cup. He was a winner of his last two starts in Claiming company when out on the lead. Both runs were on the main track and despite his speed, he is seen as an outsider.
So Suave and Rickey Walcott will compete among the outsiders having missed 17.5 months of racing through injuries and stud duties. His third attempt in the Gold Cup is not an appealing one as he mingles with the long shots on the board. (Lindon Yarde)
