First Citizens Bank will sponsor the feature event on Boxing Day-The FCB Gold Cup over 2,000 metres on the main course. The Grade One event has a purse of $500,000 and will see nine thoroughbreds vying for the position of champion stayer of the South Caribbean. However, for two of those horses, Bruceontheloose and Cactus Amour, the race is also the final chapter in the five-part Bruceontheloose versus Cactus Amour saga, as both horses have beaten each other twice this season.
Bruceontheloose has already won the "Horse of The Year 2010" title. The John O'Brien trained Bruceontheloose, which won this race last season is expected to be a very short-priced favourite for the Gold Cup, with young pretender to the staying crown, Montejo now being ridden by Ricky Jadoo, as Florida based Carlos Montalvo has been flown in to partner the SIR owned Cactus Amour. When the draw for position was made yesterday, last year's victor, Bruceontheloose, who whipped Cactus Amour will run from post position one.
The Glenn Mendez trained Cactus Amour, which is the only horse to beat Bruceontheloose, will race from pole position with Tampa champion jockey, Carlos Montalvo in the saddle. Bruceontheloose has the opportunity to give his admirers another chance to smile when he breaks out from stall one, with Calder-based jockey Wilmer Galviz astride. Galviz looks to have no more than a steering job, as the O'Brien trained roan colt showed in his final piece of work yesterday morning. Bruceontheloose had turfites and onlookers shaking their heads in disbelief as he toyed with stablemate Windjammer over 1,000 metres.
Bruceontheloose galloped superbly as he registered the time of 58.60 for the distance with his rider doing precious little. At the press conference held at All Sports office yesterday, managing director Anthony Harford stated that 11 companies came out to support the Boxing Day card to the tune of $150,000.
BOXING DAY
Here is the list of companies and the races they have sponsored.
Race 1: The Ceramic Trinidad Trophy: 1350m -Optional Claiming $7,500 - $6,500
Race 2: The Trotters Trophy: 1100m (Turf) -Optional Claiming $10,000 - $8,000
Race 3: The Penguin Ice. Co. Starter Allowance: 1200m
Race 4: The Roplasnd Ishmael Khan Trophy: 1750m-Optional Claiming $35,000 -$31,00
Race 5: The Digicel Trophy: 1200m-Imported 2 year-old.
Race 6: The Visit Barbados Trophy: 1350m-WI Bred 2 Y.O Maidens
Race 7: The Dewars Trophy: 1100m: (Turf) - WI Bred 3 y.o Maidens
Race 8: The Southern Sales Trophy: 1300m - Conditional Handicap TT Bred
Race 9: The First Citizens Gold Cup: 2000m Grade One-Purse $500,000
Race 10: The Southern Medical: 1350m-Conditional Handicap C
Race 11: The Corona Beer Trophy: (Turf) - WI Bred 3 y.o Maidens
Draw For Position:
1. Bruceontheloose W Galviz
2. Montejo R Jadoo
3. Sam's Hero B Harding
4. Proud Kentuckian A Stephen
5. Straight Ahead R Perez
6. Cactus Amour C Montalvo
7. Storm Street A Maragh
8. Windjammer P Badrie
9. Back On Top G Laban