Champions, Int’l stars set for most epic Banks DIH Guyana Cup clash

The stage is set for what promises to be one of the most competitive feature horse races in Guyana Cup history, as ten elite thoroughbreds prepare to battle over one mile in the Banks DIH Guyana Cup on Sunday, August 23, at Rising Sun Turf Club.

The field brings together past Guyana Cup champions, proven local campaigners, exciting new imports from the United States and accomplished Brazilian runners – creating a genuine international showdown.
From defending champion Dataman to 2024 champion Olympic Kremlin, rising Brazilian force Olympic National, proven campaigners Stat, Frontline Warrior and Mapa Do Brasil, and intriguing newcomers Santorini, I’m Sam, Vitruvian and Sand Pipes.
This line-up ensures that there is no easy path to the Guyana Cup crown.

DATAMAN – THE CHAMPION RETURNS
Gate 1 | Jockey: Yovin Kissoonchand
Every contender will know that the road to the 2026 title goes through Dataman, the talismanic Master Z horse.
Dataman, an American-bred gelding captured the 2025 Guyana Cup over the same one-mile distance, defeating a quality field to claim Guyana’s biggest prize.
Before coming to Guyana, Dataman competed in the United States and established himself as a serious performer. The Kentucky-bred son of Tapit has competed at stakes level, and his American résumé gives an indication of the class he brought to the Caribbean.
Now he returns with something every other horse wants – the crown.
Can Dataman make it back-to-back Guyana Cups?

STAT – THE DANGEROUS CONTENDER
Gate 2 | Jockey: Colin Ross
If recent Guyana form is the yardstick, Stat cannot be overlooked.
He finished fourth in the 2025 Guyana Cup behind Dataman and has continued to demonstrate that he belongs among Guyana’s top horses.
More importantly, Stat recently turned the tables on some of the country’s biggest names, defeating Mapa Do Brasil, Olympic Kremlin and Dataman in the CARICOM Gold Cup.
That performance sent a clear message: Stat is no supporting act.
From Gate 2, he enters the Guyana Cup as a legitimate threat capable of upsetting the established champions.

FRONTLINE WARRIOR – READY FOR BATTLE
Gate 3 | Jockey: Michael Semple
Few names fit the occasion better than Frontline Warrior.
A familiar campaigner on the Guyana circuit, Frontline Warrior has been building towards this moment. Earlier in the season, reports from Jagdeo Racing Stables described the horse as working smoothly and looking particularly sharp as Guyana Cup preparations intensified.
Frontline Warrior was also part of the high-class 2025 Guyana Cup field, meaning the atmosphere and pressure of the country’s biggest race will be nothing new.
He enters Gate 3 as the battle-tested warrior looking to produce the biggest performance of his campaign.

MAPA DO BRASIL – J’S RACING’S PROVEN STAR
Gate 4 | Jockey: Dillon Khelawan
Mapa Do Brasil has already proven that he can win major races in Guyana – and that makes him one of the horses to watch carefully.
Representing J’s Racing Stables, the Brazilian-bred campaigner produced an impressive feature-race victory at the 2026 Pagwah Cup at Kennard Memorial Turf Club.
He subsequently demonstrated his stamina over nine furlongs, powering to another victory and showing that longer distances pose no fear for him.
Mapa Do Brasil has therefore demonstrated something invaluable heading into a one-mile championship: he knows how to win in Guyana.
From Gate 4, J’s Racing’s Brazilian star will attempt to turn proven local form into the biggest victory of his career.

OLYMPIC KREMLIN – ONE LAST SHOT AT GLORY
Gate 5 | Jockey: Acendir Gulart
This may be the most emotional storyline of the entire race.
Olympic Kremlin, winner of the 2024 Guyana Cup, is scheduled to make his final competitive appearance before retirement.
But this is no ceremonial farewell.
The Brazilian-bred son of Agnes Gold has serious international credentials. Before becoming a star in Guyana, Olympic Kremlin won Brazil’s prestigious Grande Prêmio Cruzeiro do Sul in 2021.
Recent performances suggest that the veteran still has fight left in him. He finished second behind Dataman in the Banks DIH Classic and third behind Stat and Mapa Do Brasil in the CARICOM Cup.
He has already worn the Guyana Cup crown.
Now, in his final race, Olympic Kremlin has one last opportunity to leave the track as champion.
One final mile. One final Guyana Cup. One final shot at glory.

OLYMPIC NATIONAL – BRAZILIAN FIREPOWER ARRIVES
Gate 6 | Jockey: Francisco Chaves
If there is an international wildcard capable of turning this race upside down, Olympic National may be it.
The Brazilian-bred runner comes to Guyana with serious credentials.
Representing Slingerz Racing Stable, Olympic National produced an authoritative victory in Brazil in the Much Better Classic, a Listed race contested over 1,900 metres on dirt at the famous Gávea Racetrack in Rio de Janeiro.
He has also competed at Group level in Brazil, finishing fourth in the Grand Prix City Hall of Rio de Janeiro (G3) earlier this year.
That means Guyanese racing fans are about to see a horse arriving directly from competition at one of South America’s important racing centres.
Olympic National makes his Guyana Cup debut from Gate 6 – and he arrives with a résumé that demands respect.

SANTORINI – THE AMERICAN IMPORT WITH SOMETHING TO PROVE
Gate 7 | Jockey: Wilkey De Xavier
One of the intriguing new faces in the field is Santorini, an American-bred gelding preparing to make his mark in Guyana.
Foaled in Kentucky in 2020, Santorini previously raced in the United States and was trained by respected American conditioner Michael Maker. His previous connections also included top-level American jockey Flavien Prat.
Now representing J’s Racing Stables, Santorini begins an entirely new chapter of his career.
The Guyana Cup will provide an immediate examination of his ability against the best horses currently competing locally.
From Gate 7, Santorini is the unknown quantity – and sometimes the horse the competition knows least about can be the most dangerous.

I’M SAM – THE AMERICAN WILDCARD
Gate 8 | Jockey: Kaua Gonsalves
Another fascinating addition is I’m Sam.
The American campaigner brings race experience to Guyana and has already demonstrated his ability to find the winner’s circle. In September 2025, I’m Sam scored as the favourite with three-time Jamaican champion jockey Anthony Thomas aboard.
He has continued competing in the United States, including at Gulfstream Park in Florida.
Now the scenery changes completely.
From American racing to the biggest stage in Guyana, I’m Sam enters Gate 8 as another international challenger looking to announce himself in spectacular fashion.

VITRUVIAN – THE GROUP 1 PERFORMER
Gate 9 | Jockey: Alexandre Correia
The late addition of Vitruvian dramatically raises the international quality of this field.
The five-year-old Brazilian-bred campaigner has been described as a Group 1 performer and was specifically recruited by Slingerz Racing Stable to strengthen its assault on the 2026 Guyana Cup.
By American stallion Hofburg out of Brazilian mare Organic Lady, Vitruvian brings Brazilian racing experience into an already stacked field.
With Olympic Kremlin and Olympic National already representing Slingerz, the addition of Vitruvian gives the stable a formidable three-horse attack.
From Gate 9, the Brazilian newcomer could prove to be one of the biggest dangers in the entire race.

SAND PIPES – SPEED FROM AMERICA
Gate 10 | Jockey: Jose Da Silva
Completing the field from the outside is Sand Pipes, another American-bred newcomer with an interesting résumé.
Foaled in Kentucky in 2021, Sand Pipes is a son of Summer Front out of Birkenhead.
He has competed on the American circuit and demonstrated the ability to win there, including a victory at Mahoning Valley.
Sand Pipes has also shown toughness in close finishes. In one Maryland race, he was bumped by another runner late in the contest, regrouped and still fought through to a narrow finish – the type of competitiveness that could serve him well in a crowded ten-horse Guyana Cup.
He may start from the widest gate, but Sand Pipes gives the 2026 field yet another dangerous American-bred challenger.

TEN HORSES. ONE MILE. ONE CHAMPION.
The storylines could hardly be better.
Dataman is defending his crown.
Olympic Kremlin wants to end a decorated career by reclaiming his.
Stat has already shown he can defeat the champions.
Mapa Do Brasil carries proven winning form for J’s Racing Stables.
Frontline Warrior brings experience and local toughness.
Olympic National arrives with a Brazilian Listed victory.
Vitruvian brings Group 1 credentials.
And Santorini, I’m Sam and Sand Pipes add fresh American firepower to a field filled with uncertainty.
When the gates open, reputations will mean little.
Ten horses will have approximately one mile to settle the argument.
On Sunday, August 23, Guyana will crown its champion.
The Banks DIH Guyana Cup – this is the one nobody will want to miss.