COMMENTARY FOR TUESDAY , 2ND JANUARY 2007

January 1, 2007

 

Two Husbands take Charge at Santa Rosa Park

By Andre E Baptiste

 

CMC SPORTS: ARIMA – Barbadian riders Patrick and Christopher Husbands dominated the New Year’s Day Card at Santa Rosa Park as the 2007 Racing Season kicked off under sunny skies. Chief Commander and Patrick Husbands scored a comfortable victory in the first of the day’s feature events the Caribbean Turf Classic over 1800 metres on a soft turf course on the New Year’s Day card at Santa Rosa Park today.  Always handily placed, the six year old bay horse who was sent off as the 2/1 second favourite overtook the pacesetting Sara’s Music, the 2006 Trinidad Derby winner and jockey Chris Husbands, at the top of the stretch before stretching clear for a six lengths win.  The 6/5 favourite, Jamaican bred Uram, ridden by 2006 Jamaican Champion Jockey Brian Harding, stayed on from the rear to take second with Sara’s Music holding on for third.  Chief Commander is owned by the Poon Tip Stud Farm Ltd and trained by 2006 Champion Trainer John O’Brien.

 

In the second of the day’s feature events, the First Classic over 1100 metres for West Indian bred three years old on the turf, Patrick Husbands scored his second victory on the day’s card when pushing St. Ann’s heroine and 3/5 favourite September d’Sixth to another facile victory over St. James’ Stakes runner up Luca’s Gold.  Luca’s Gold and Over The Threshold disputed the early lead before the latter dropped away tamely at the 400 metres mark at which point Husbands produced the slow starting September d’Sixth to swoop past a hard ridden Luca’s Gold under Brian Harding and pull away for a comfortable seven lengths victory.  Luca’s Gold just held on to second ahead of 50/1 outsider Great Memories.  99/1 shot Sara’s Symphony was a remote fourth.  September d’Sixth is owned by Maharaj & Sons Stables and trained by Maniram Maharaj.

 

In the third of the day’s features, the Sian’s Gold Sprint, trainer Maniram Maharaj teamed up with another Husbands, Chris Husbands, to score a mild upset with creole Salsa Moves at 6/1.  The speedy six year old, broke on top, shook loose of rank outsider Sunday Jewel approaching the 600 metres marker and opened up a long looking six lengths lead at the top of the straight.  Favourite Invincibility (3/5) under Nobel Abrego who was last early, came with his customary rattle in the straight but Salsa Moves had done enough and although Invincibility was gaining with every stride, the winning pole came in time for leader with Invincibility still half a length down.  There was a long gap back to Dauntless Hero who took third with last year’s winner Twice Infallible a never dangerous fourth.  Like September d’Sixth, Salsa Moves is owned by Maharaj & Sons Stables.

 

Chris Husbands out of luck on Sara’s Music but victorious with Salsa Moves, had earlier secured a pillar to post victory on 1/2 favourite Feelikemakinluv in the day’s fourth event for Optional Claimers over 1350 metres.  Also scoring his first win for the 2007 season was Brian Harding who drove 5/2 shot Adios Amigos to a narrow success over race favourite Man of Class in the day’s second event, a Starter Allowance over 1200 metres.  Harding returned to win the day’s finale on 4/5 favourite No Limit in an Optional Claiming event over 1350 metres. Newcomer Graham, ridden by Panamanian Nobel Abrego scored a gutsy front running victory in Race 6 for West Indian bred three year olds over 1100 metres. The 4/1 shot was quickly into stride and opened a clear lead at the top of the stretch before withstanding a furious late rally from fellow newcomers and joint 2/1 favourites Hesuntouchabull and Jamaican bred King’s Counsel to win by a head and a half length.

 

Other winners on the day’s card were Buffalo Soldier (2/1) in the opener for Optional Claimers over 1350 metres; Jamaican bred Piarco (6/5) in Race Three, an Optional Claiming event over 1200 metres; and Private Affair (9/2) in Race Eight, an Optional Claiming event over 1200 metres.  Trainers Maniram Maharaj and John O’Brien scored two winners each courtesy of September d’Sixth and Salsa Moves and Chief Commander and Graham respectively.  Top jockeys were Patrick and Christopher Husbands and Brian Harding who each scored two wins on the day’s programme.

 

 

AEB::