Melrose
by LINDON YARDE MELROSE RACING COLOURS reigned supreme on Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup Raceday as they dominated the undercard, capturing three races at the historic Garrison Savannah on Saturday before thousands of racing enthusiasts.
The successful trio of Gryffindor, Donna’s True Bling and Lightning Pilot were magnificently prepared for the day by sole trainer Robert Peirce who scored a treble.
On the day when pink was the outstanding colour, the St Thomas-based outfit which is headed by The Most Honourable Peter Odle landed races three, seven and nine.
Contesting the Sandy Lane Suite Trophy (Allotted Weights Race) over 1 000 metres for maidens, Gryffindor ran out an easy winner.
Under apprentice Teshawn Hazelwood, the threeyear-old bay colt by Wild Cat Tea out of Bird Of Prey surged by the field from his outside draw to get home by four and a half lengths in 1:05.2.
Amazing Jane held second place with jockey Damario Bynoe in the saddle, while Voltava under Rocco Bowen took third from fourth-place finisher
Queen’s Consort and jockey N’Rico Prescod.
Next, it was the turn of New York-based apprentice Elijah Greenidge to show his mettle as he was meticulous when guiding home Donna’s True Bling in the 1 800 metres Green Monkey Trophy Handicap for horses rated 55-37, which was restricted to seven-pound claiming apprentices only.
The nine-year-old bay mare which was the first of two winners on the programme for groom Carol Fedee, was nicely tucked away behind the leaders Red Eagle and Mumbai. Coming back to the quarter pole Donna’s True Bling was asked to move into full gear at which time she split the aforementioned pair at the top of the home stretch.
Half-length victory
The nine-year-old bay mare went on to win by a half-length in one minute, 56.2 seconds. Mumbai with Jamali Farrell came second from the Devante Prescod-ridden Red Eagle, leaving Lovely and Raheem Thorpe as the fourth place finisher .
Jockey N’Rico Prescod ticked his name in the winning column when he outstayed the field in the Country Club Trophy Handicap over 1 100 metres for horses rated 80-60.
In one of the better rides of the day, Prescod produced the nine-year-old grey roan gelding Lightning Lewis with a strong run from mid-pack. The pair galloped across the winning line oneand- a-quarter lengths ahead while pausing the clock in 1:05.4 minutes. Behind them was the early pace setter in Dancing Prospector ridden by Rachaad Knights, Jericho partnered by Antonio Whitehall who grabbed the third position ahead of Tuff Rags with Anderson Trotman in the saddle.
Kerland Felicien and Stephen Jardine’s threeyear-old filly Mercedes recorded another win as she comfortably stole Race 4: The Bajan Blue Restaurant Trophy (Allotted Weights Race) over 1 570 metres for West Indian bred three-year-olds.
(right) of the Melrose Racing syndicate landed three wins at the Garrison Savannah, Saturday. Odle watched some of the day’s racing with Trinidadian friends
Michael and Wendy Achim. (Picture by Sandy Pitt)
