Former champion trainer John O’Brien will be looking to land his ninth winner in the Grade One Independence Cup over 1,800 metres on the turf course at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on August 31st.
At the fourth declaration stage, O’Brien has four probable runners in Trini Aviator, Howsweetitis, Ravishing and Thisonesforron.
O’Brien has won this race on eight occasions and looks set to add another to his tally with his quartet of runners. His entrants all have great form on the turf and it will take a super run by one of their rivals to spoil the O’Brien Independence Party this year.
Champion owner Shivam Maharaj, who won this race last year with Commanding Fashion, will be represented by Stockyard, who won this event three years ago and finished third last year. He will also run Tiz A Vibe. Both horses are both conditioned by Harriram Gobin.
Last year, the confidence displayed on Commanding Fashion by Yosenyer Serrano to take the first prize $90,000 cheque by 3/4 of a length from Howsweetitis with Stockyard 3 1/4 length adrift in third was well worth the wait.
The holiday crowd was brought alive and voiced their approval as Howsweetitis and Commanding Fashion settled to fight it out in the last 300 metres and fought they did. However, on that occasion Commanding Fashion would not accept defeat and dug in, battling all the way to line to deprive Howsweetitis of his unbeaten record on the turf course and the Independence Cup.
This year, the stable will be relying on Stockyard for another win in the prestigious event.
The Rolf Bartolo-owned and trained Root of Jesse has been a model of consistency this season and must be respected. He is expected to go close in this event.
The old-stager Buffalo Soldier, from the barn of Harold Chadee, is expected to run another game race. If anywhere close to his best, he will be tumbling down at the end of the event. The same sentiments can be expressed for the improving Risk To Riches.
From the look of it all therefore, this year’s edition of the Independence Cup will be extremely competitive. The race has everything that a turfite and punter would want to see —from the speedsters to the stalkers, to the closers.
There is the speed in the event with Trini Aviator, Ravishing and Tiz A Vibe.
One thing I am certain of, O’Brien will win this event.