On Boxing Day last year, Nuclear Power, superbly ridden by Wilmer Galviz, carved a new image in local racing and gave local breeding and the “Sport of Kings” renewed hope.
The three-year-old, grey filly tracked the leaders until being set alight at 800 metres out to beat the Glenn Mendez-trained pair of Valorous and Stewards Cup winner Whisper Light in a driving finish in the 2,000-metre, Grade One NLCB Gold Cup.
Before the largest and most enthusiastic Boxing Day crowd at Arima for some time, the Harriram Gobin-trained Nuclear Power became only the third filly to win the prestigious event at Santa Rosa Park since the sport switched homes from the Queen’s Park Savannah to Santa Rosa Park in 1993.
Nuclear Power, owned by champion owner Shivam Maharaj, showed to all and sundry that she is one of the best stayers in the Southern Caribbean.
Many in the large crowd believed that the race was one of the best seen for almost a decade and with 300 metres left to race, there were five horses spread across the track fighting to land the $132,000 first prize cheque.
On Wednesday, June 19th, Nuclear Power will throw down the gauntlet to Whisper Light, Thisonesforron and Princess Suri once again in a race which promises to be a thriller.
Eleven horses have been entered for the Grade Three President's Cup, with Nuclear Power and Carlos Rojas expected to be highly favoured to win the event.
However, last year's winner Princess Suri looks set to defend her title and her last race, when beaten by a short-head by Caeser Country, suggests that the Shaffique Khan-trained filly is coming back to her best. She could prove difficult to beat if back to her best.
Caesar Country, from the Glenn Mendez barn, is one of two entrants from the stable. This one is well weighted on 49.5 kilos and could run a big race for Keiron Razack. However, Stewards Cup winner of 2018 Whisper Light, which was just touched off in a thriller on Boxing Day, must be respected with Ricky Jadoo in the saddle. Despite top-weight, Whisper Light is expected to go close.
Former champion trainer John O'Brien is attacking the event with two runners in Thisonesforron and General JN. The former is a classy individual and has a big heart. He will go close if anywhere near his best. However, the classy General JN returned to racing successfully last time out and with 52 kilos and Rico Hernandez in the saddle he could make them all run.
The horse which everyone expects to go very close is the stablemate of Nuclear Power, Master of War, who has raced unbeaten in his last five starts going back to 2018. Yosenyer Serrano will ride this horse, which has been improving steadily and must be respected.
This year's edition looks like it is worth travelling miles to see.