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'Bruce' blazes to 'Midsummer' win
Glen Mohammed
Sunday, August 2nd 2009
BRUCEONTHELOOSE'S performance in yesterday's showcase 1,900-metre NLCB Midsummer Classic at Santa Rosa Park was as effortless as fellow Jamaican athlete, Usain Bolt's trotting up in last year's 100-metre sprint at the Beijing OIympics.
The roan/grey Jamaica-bred trained by John O'Brien and ridden by Calder-based Wilmer Galviz for the Tres Amigos syndicate, won as a 3/5 favourite should - by an unchallenged 5 1/4 lengths from second favourite Sound Of Thunder, Marathon Man and Mission King in a good 2:01.4.
He was eased down in similar fashion to Bolt--a long way from the finish line in the $475,000 showpiece--and turned the results of the first leg of the Triple Crown series - the Carib Guineas upside down - with winner, Santa Rosa Boy finishing 11th, runner-up Dring Brinks last and third-placed finisher Be Nice, 13th.
"I came for easy money," declared successful jockey Galviz who was flown in for the ride. "He is a runner, you could rate him...He is very relaxed and has good speed. I will be coming back."
O'Brien, who was winning the race for the second time in 16 years said of his charge: "Impressive...he is a nice horse. He won in almost the same time as the horses that won the President's Cup last week and he carried 56.5 kilo, and they carried 46.5 kilos. When he worked on Monday, I felt he was in the same class of Adawar, Swing By and Chanticleer".
And Gervain Mouttet, the Trinidadian owner and partners Paul Hoo and Herbert Chong, also shared their satisfaction after the race.
"He is a nice horse and being a Trini, I love to race in Trinidad," Mouttet told the Express.
Hoo added diplomatically: "Our racing fraternity involves not owning, but developing Caricom racing. We love to see our horse race here and we also want T&T horses to come across but this will not happen if we do not come across."
"Good purses help racing. This is a fantastic thing" Hoo continued. "The purse also encouraged us. We hope T&T owners will reciprocate."
Chong chipped in: "We enjoy our racing. It's good to see we can move around the Caribbean. It proved worthwhile coming."
He added: "We will be back for the Derby and we will leave how long we stay after the Derby to the assessment of the trainer."
Leaving the start of the 15-horse event, Skyline Pigeon and The Bailiff jostled for the lead with "Bruce" on their inside and Marathon Man following. Nearing the first turn, Marathon Man was the victim of some tightening up and had to be snatched up, leaving "Bruce" on the rails to pinch the lead from Skyline Pigeon.
However, Galviz was content to let the "Pigeon" and The Bailiff pressure for the lead. As the horses straightened up the backstretch and neared the 900-metre pole, "Bruce" eased into the lead and the race was now on for second.
Nearing the hometurn, Hurricane Watch cruised into second but "Bruce" was already on the loose.
Sound Of Thunder, with another Calder-based rider Roimes Chirinos aboard, tried to mount a challenge, but only got a good glimpse of the grey's romp.
Marathon Man stayed on to get third with Mission King rallying in fourth to complete a sweep of the top placings by the Jamaica-bred horses.
And trainer Glenn Mendez was again the most successful trainer, scoring a beaver-trick which started from the second race with Regal Honour, followed by Sonata's Melody in the third, Powerball in the fourth and newcomer Homebrush Baby in the fifth.
And apprentice Chris Jadoo ended his apprenticeship (60 wins) in style, scoring with Regal Honour. He then opened his full-fledged career with Powerball in his very next ride.
And one person won a record Hi-5 payout of $252,482. 70 in the curtain event for the combination of Windy Lass, Bullion Babe, O-G Zan Nages, Judy The Judge and Action.
Glen Mohammed
Sunday, August 2nd 2009
BRUCEONTHELOOSE'S performance in yesterday's showcase 1,900-metre NLCB Midsummer Classic at Santa Rosa Park was as effortless as fellow Jamaican athlete, Usain Bolt's trotting up in last year's 100-metre sprint at the Beijing OIympics. The roan/grey Jamaica-bred trained by John O'Brien and ridden by Calder-based Wilmer Galviz for the Tres Amigos syndicate, won as a 3/5 favourite should - by an unchallenged 5 1/4 lengths from second favourite Sound Of Thunder, Marathon Man and Mission King in a good 2:01.4.
He was eased down in similar fashion to Bolt--a long way from the finish line in the $475,000 showpiece--and turned the results of the first leg of the Triple Crown series - the Carib Guineas upside down - with winner, Santa Rosa Boy finishing 11th, runner-up Dring Brinks last and third-placed finisher Be Nice, 13th.
"I came for easy money," declared successful jockey Galviz who was flown in for the ride. "He is a runner, you could rate him...He is very relaxed and has good speed. I will be coming back."
O'Brien, who was winning the race for the second time in 16 years said of his charge: "Impressive...he is a nice horse. He won in almost the same time as the horses that won the President's Cup last week and he carried 56.5 kilo, and they carried 46.5 kilos. When he worked on Monday, I felt he was in the same class of Adawar, Swing By and Chanticleer".
And Gervain Mouttet, the Trinidadian owner and partners Paul Hoo and Herbert Chong, also shared their satisfaction after the race.
"He is a nice horse and being a Trini, I love to race in Trinidad," Mouttet told the Express.
Hoo added diplomatically: "Our racing fraternity involves not owning, but developing Caricom racing. We love to see our horse race here and we also want T&T horses to come across but this will not happen if we do not come across."
"Good purses help racing. This is a fantastic thing" Hoo continued. "The purse also encouraged us. We hope T&T owners will reciprocate."
Chong chipped in: "We enjoy our racing. It's good to see we can move around the Caribbean. It proved worthwhile coming."
He added: "We will be back for the Derby and we will leave how long we stay after the Derby to the assessment of the trainer."
Leaving the start of the 15-horse event, Skyline Pigeon and The Bailiff jostled for the lead with "Bruce" on their inside and Marathon Man following. Nearing the first turn, Marathon Man was the victim of some tightening up and had to be snatched up, leaving "Bruce" on the rails to pinch the lead from Skyline Pigeon.
However, Galviz was content to let the "Pigeon" and The Bailiff pressure for the lead. As the horses straightened up the backstretch and neared the 900-metre pole, "Bruce" eased into the lead and the race was now on for second.
Nearing the hometurn, Hurricane Watch cruised into second but "Bruce" was already on the loose.
Sound Of Thunder, with another Calder-based rider Roimes Chirinos aboard, tried to mount a challenge, but only got a good glimpse of the grey's romp.
Marathon Man stayed on to get third with Mission King rallying in fourth to complete a sweep of the top placings by the Jamaica-bred horses.
And trainer Glenn Mendez was again the most successful trainer, scoring a beaver-trick which started from the second race with Regal Honour, followed by Sonata's Melody in the third, Powerball in the fourth and newcomer Homebrush Baby in the fifth.
And apprentice Chris Jadoo ended his apprenticeship (60 wins) in style, scoring with Regal Honour. He then opened his full-fledged career with Powerball in his very next ride.
And one person won a record Hi-5 payout of $252,482. 70 in the curtain event for the combination of Windy Lass, Bullion Babe, O-G Zan Nages, Judy The Judge and Action.