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Mass Horse Exodus - Bigman In Town, Selectabook Among 17 To Continue Racing Career In T&T
Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer
This year's 1000 Guineas winner SELECTABOOK and topline three-year-old colt BIGMAN IN TOWN are among 17 local horses scheduled to leave the island tomorrow to continue their racing careers at Santa Rosa Park in Trinidad.
In addition to the Anthony Nunes-trained SELECTABOOK, who was second to PERFECT NEIGHBOUR in Saturday's Boom Jamaica St Leger and the Gary Subratie-trained BIGMAN IN TOWN, other notable horses making the one-way trip are the 1000 Guineas runner-up PERFECT DAY, PLUM PLUM, SWAPPED, RHEA'S TOY SOLDIER, WOMAN IS BOSS and FIRE LIGHT, who was recently by Trinidadian interests.
Trinidadian Baskaran Bassawh, who owns beaten derby favourite BIGMAN IN TOWN, disclosed that the former record-priced horse - who fetched $3.4 million in the 2011 yearling sale - will be prepared specifically for the Trinidad Derby on September 24.
"I didn't have the best of luck with Bigman In Town in the classics, but as was the case with Bruceontheloose, who failed to win the Jamaica Derby in 2009 but went on to win the Trinidad Derby, I have a point to prove with him," said Bassawh, who is president of the Owners' Association in Trinidad.
MUCH TO PROVE
"I can promise you that if he wins the Trinidad Derby, Bigman In Town will return to Jamaica in November to run in the Superstakes ... . That's the point I have to prove, that he was a much better horse than his running in the classics indicates. You don't know half the story," he added.
Bassawh also revealed that he has obtained occupational permits for trainer Gary Subratie, his assistant trainer Marvin Campbell, and two grooms to journey to Trinidad to prepare BIGMAN for the derby and PERFECT DAY for the Oaks on August 31.
"Campbell and the grooms will leave on Thursday and will remain in Trinidad until after the derby, while Subratie will make the trip next month in time to condition both Perfect Day and Bigman In Town," he further disclosed.
Continuing, Bassawh, who has purchased some expensive yearlings such as the 2011 renewal of the 2000 Guineas winner Big Man Boyu and Treasure Girl at the Caymanas sale in recent years to race in Trinidad, said although he enjoys running horses in Jamaica, there are some aspects of racing at Caymanas Park, such as favouritism, that displease him.
"After Omar Walker's below-par ride aboard Bigman in the 2000 Guineas, I tried to fly in the accomplished Trinidadian jockey Emile Ramsammy as his replacement for the Governor's Cup at the derby, but was given the runaround by the authorities, who asked for a CSME and God knows what," he explained.
"But at the same time, American jockey Orlando Bocachica was given the green light to come here and ride the derby winner Perfect Neighbour ... ."
After the disappointment of BIGMAN losing the Derby on June 15, Bassawh said he had reason to smile four days later on returning to Trinidad, as his horses won three of the major races on the Labour Day programme at Santa Rosa. They include his 2012 Derby winner FREE PASSAGE, who won the Eric 'Colt' Durrant Memorial Cup.
Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer
This year's 1000 Guineas winner SELECTABOOK and topline three-year-old colt BIGMAN IN TOWN are among 17 local horses scheduled to leave the island tomorrow to continue their racing careers at Santa Rosa Park in Trinidad.
In addition to the Anthony Nunes-trained SELECTABOOK, who was second to PERFECT NEIGHBOUR in Saturday's Boom Jamaica St Leger and the Gary Subratie-trained BIGMAN IN TOWN, other notable horses making the one-way trip are the 1000 Guineas runner-up PERFECT DAY, PLUM PLUM, SWAPPED, RHEA'S TOY SOLDIER, WOMAN IS BOSS and FIRE LIGHT, who was recently by Trinidadian interests.
Trinidadian Baskaran Bassawh, who owns beaten derby favourite BIGMAN IN TOWN, disclosed that the former record-priced horse - who fetched $3.4 million in the 2011 yearling sale - will be prepared specifically for the Trinidad Derby on September 24.
"I didn't have the best of luck with Bigman In Town in the classics, but as was the case with Bruceontheloose, who failed to win the Jamaica Derby in 2009 but went on to win the Trinidad Derby, I have a point to prove with him," said Bassawh, who is president of the Owners' Association in Trinidad.
MUCH TO PROVE
"I can promise you that if he wins the Trinidad Derby, Bigman In Town will return to Jamaica in November to run in the Superstakes ... . That's the point I have to prove, that he was a much better horse than his running in the classics indicates. You don't know half the story," he added.
Bassawh also revealed that he has obtained occupational permits for trainer Gary Subratie, his assistant trainer Marvin Campbell, and two grooms to journey to Trinidad to prepare BIGMAN for the derby and PERFECT DAY for the Oaks on August 31.
"Campbell and the grooms will leave on Thursday and will remain in Trinidad until after the derby, while Subratie will make the trip next month in time to condition both Perfect Day and Bigman In Town," he further disclosed.
Continuing, Bassawh, who has purchased some expensive yearlings such as the 2011 renewal of the 2000 Guineas winner Big Man Boyu and Treasure Girl at the Caymanas sale in recent years to race in Trinidad, said although he enjoys running horses in Jamaica, there are some aspects of racing at Caymanas Park, such as favouritism, that displease him.
"After Omar Walker's below-par ride aboard Bigman in the 2000 Guineas, I tried to fly in the accomplished Trinidadian jockey Emile Ramsammy as his replacement for the Governor's Cup at the derby, but was given the runaround by the authorities, who asked for a CSME and God knows what," he explained.
"But at the same time, American jockey Orlando Bocachica was given the green light to come here and ride the derby winner Perfect Neighbour ... ."
After the disappointment of BIGMAN losing the Derby on June 15, Bassawh said he had reason to smile four days later on returning to Trinidad, as his horses won three of the major races on the Labour Day programme at Santa Rosa. They include his 2012 Derby winner FREE PASSAGE, who won the Eric 'Colt' Durrant Memorial Cup.
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