Independence Day (tomorrow) will see Inter-Island rivalry returns to Santa Rosa Park when the bumper Massy Day at The Races take place at the picturesque track out in Arima.The feature event on the ten-race programme will be the Grade One- Bernard Dulal-Whiteway Independence Cup, which has attracting a field of nine horses including the 2014 Barbados Massy United Derby winner Voldermort which will be ridden by Patrick Husbands.
The Victor Cheeseman trained horse will attempt to land the lucrative first prize of $120,000 for owners Bills Incorporated. Last year, Glenn Mendez landed a 'touch' when creole Urban Knight made every pole a winning one to win as he please.This year Mendez has creole Dark Treasure entered along with Secret American. He could well upset everyone and repeat the success of Urban Knight, last year's winner.
The top event looks a competitive one, with the John O'Brien trained Thisoneisforron expected to be a short-priced favourite. At his best Thisoneisforron has played second fiddle to the Horse of The Year 2013/14 Bigman In Town and must have an outstanding chance of landing this prize for his owners. With Bigman In Town not in the event, he could put his head in front for Nobel Abrego. He has beaten all of the local horses this season and should be hard to peg back. O'Brien also has Danube Waltz engaged and this horse is an improving thoroughbred which is well weighted.
Transpire from the barn of David Ojar could be a difficult rival if allowed an easy lead. He ran Bigman In Town close earlier in the season and could run a big race.The mare Sacred Trust has always run a good race in this event and must be respected. The Jose William-Samaroo trained horse could surprise under Kieron Khelawan. The Harold Chadee trained Buffalo Soldier went off as favourite in this event last year when ridden by Emile Ramsammy. He disappointed and has not shown the level of form to win this event, but he's a contender.
In the other co-feature the Moneygram Gleneagle Stakes over 1,750 metres on the main track , Abrego could be the crowd favourite aboard Cloud Nine. This one ran well in the Classics earlier this season and once she can reproduce that form will take the world of beating.Barbados is again aptly represented with Poetic Licenece from the same connection. This filly must have an outstanding chance as our horses are not of the highest calibre this time around.
Champion trainer John O'Brien has two entered in the event Tan Tan and Serengeti in the line up but neither have shown any form this season. Brilliance won well last time out but that was in a lower class but still has an outside chance of upsetting the applecart.Massy formerly known as Neal & Massy Limited, the company has a new corporate identity and will sponsor the ten-race programme on Monday, August 31st, Independence Day.
Guardian's Betting on the two major events
Moneygram Gleneagle Stakes
901 1 Brilliance G Mendez/W Galviz 55 In tough (25/1)
328 2 Tan Tan J O'Brien/K Khelawan 55 Forget (50/1)
131 3 Star Sapphire G Mendez/N Samaroo 55 Respected (7/1)
143 4 Osceola Parkway S Khan/R Jadoo 55 Good run (12/1)
214 5 Cloud Nine D Bennett/N Abrego 55 Can take this (2/1)
761 6 Orchid Girl I Danglade/R Hasranah 55 Outsider (33/1)
354 7 Precocious S Khan/R Ali 55 Forget (100/1)
--0 8 Mirkana T Thomas/S Rodrigo 55 Wrong race (200/1)
--- 9 Poetic Licence V Cheeseman/P Husbands 55 Can go close (4/1)
388 10 Serengeti J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 55 Speedy (7/1)
143 11 Delightful S Khan/P Badrie 55 In tough (25/1)
Grade One–Bernard Dulal-Whiteway Independence Cup
446 1 Sacred Trust J W-Samaroo/K Khelawan 54 Not the force (10/1)
331 2 Danube Waltz J O'Brien/P Badrie 49 Well weighted (5/1)
125 3 Transpire D Ojar/S Rodrigo 57 Chance if in lead (7/1)
441 4 Secret American G Mendez/W Galviz 57 Repeat (6/1)
115 5 Dark Treasure G Mendez/R Ali 51.5 Don't trust (12/1)
--5 6 Voldermort V Cheeseman/P Husbands 54 Can go close (7/2)
853 7 Buffalo Soldier H Chadee/R Walcott 57 Disappointing (16/1)
-13 8 Relampago A Nunes/B Boodramsing 54 Running on (20/1)
514 9 Thisonesforron J O'Brien/N Abrego 57 One to beat (8/5)