Juice Man will attempt to give champion trainer Glenn Mendez his fifth Derby success in the 2,000-metre Grade One - Carib Brewery Ltd Trinidad Derby Stakes on Republic Day (Tuesday 24) at Santa Rosa Park, Arima.
Mendez, who is chasing back-to-back wins in the prestigious event after the success of the Merlin Samlalsingh-owned Cape Canaveral last year, will saddle one horse, the overwhelming favourite Juice Man which will be ridden by Ricky Jadoo.
The blue riband event has attracted five Jamaican-bred horses, one Barbadian-bred horse and four T&T-bred thoroughbreds.
At the press conference and draw held at The Ansa McAl Hospitality Suite, Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain on Tuesday, owner Justyn Kanta Persad pulled the eighth gate in the 10-horse contest for his Jamaican-bred gelding who won his three starts in this country, including second leg of local racing's 'Triple Crown', the Midsummer Classic over 1,900m.
Owner Anthony Wight pulled position 10 for the John O'Brien trained Apocalypse. Former champion jockey Brian Boodramsing will partner the highly regarded horse.
O'Brien pulled gate five for his biggest challenger to Juice Man, Making Headlines. Kerron Khelawan will do the steering on the Ruthven Smith-owned horse.
Regal Intension from the Harold Chadee barn will race from stall six for Wilmer Galviz. O'Brien who has a five-prong attack in the event drew gate two for last week's impressive maiden winner Marengo, which will be ridden by Keishan Balgobin in the $165,000 purse event.
Trainer Glen Mohammed, who prepared Hello to run a brilliant race in the Derby two year's ago behind Leading Lady, attacks the event with one representative, Memories. This maiden will be partnered by veteran big race rider Nobel Abrego and will race from the inside post.
The lone Barbadian entry for the Derby is Visionary and this Mark Goodridge-owned horse will be ridden by Anderson Ward.
Antron Forte, the Category Manager, Beer and Cider at Carib Brewery said, "Firstly I would like to thank the team of hard-working executives at the Arima Race Club (ARC) for inviting us to partner again for this premiere event. Horse racing is without a doubt, a well-established sport worldwide. However, the tireless work that the team at the ARC has done to keep the standard of the sport at the highest level, must not go without mention.
"We at Carib Brewery are committed to supporting sport and culture within T&T. We see the intrinsic value that horse racing brings not only to the owners of these prestigious pedigrees but to the many fans who come out to support.
"Personally, I have been part of the excitement and fanfare during race day and it is absolutely amazing to see the pandemonium that occurs as the winning horses cross the finish line."
President of the ARC, Robert Bernard, in his address said, "This marks the celebration of a major sponsorship between the Arima Race Club and Carib Brewery Ltd. This association is a perfect match as the Derby is replete with the most prestigious equine athletes; unquestionably the Carib products lines on par with such excellence and is most definitely a national champion. I thank Carib for lending its very credible name to the Derby and for adding it's considerable weight to this event."
Here are the declared runners for the 2,000m Carib Brewery Ltd Trinidad Derby Stakes and the 1,350m Carib Brand Diamond Stakes:
CARIB BREWERY LTD TRINIDAD DERBY STAKES - 2,000M - $165,000
1. Memories N Abrego
2. Marengo K Balgobin
3. La Reine K Santo
4. Visionary A Ward
5. Making Headlines K Khelawan
6. Regal Intension W Galviz
7. News Flash R Ali
8. Juice Man R Jadoo
9. Blue Navigator Ri Hernandez
10. Apocalypse B Boodramsing
CARIB BRAND DIAMOND STAKES - 1,350M - $65,000
1. Caesar Country K Razack
2. Pauseforacoors B Boodransing
3. Nuclear Power K Santo
4. thisonesforron K Khelawan
5. General JN Ri Hernandez
6. Valorous R Jadoo
7. Whisper Light S Balroop
8. Master of War N Mohammed
9. Stockyard N Abrego