Golden Blue Echo wins feature event at Nand Persaud Sprint Classic

By Brandon Corlette

Early morning showers that assailed the Corentyne Coast last Sunday could not cast a damper on the excitement generated by the 2019 edition of the Nand Persaud Sky Plus Sprint Classic horse-racing meet, which rode off in fine fashion at that company’s racing facility at Macedonia Estate, Number 36 Village, Corentyne.

In the feature event of the meet, the E Class & Lower race over four furlongs for a top prize of $300,000, Golden Blue Echo of the Nand Persaud Racing Stables, under control of local champion jockey Colin Ross, thrilled spectators packed in the stands by outsprinting top race horses T&T into second place and Simple Slide, controlled by Trinidadian jockey Santo, into third place.
This was the penultimate event of the meet, and Golden Dancer was ruled out of the race after running off the track before the race began, leaving just three top horses in hot contention for the winner’s prize.

The packed seven-race programme began with the L-Class Male event, which saw Touch Down from the East Side dominating the likes of Oryan (second), Awesome Banner (third) and The Rock (fourth).
In the second race of the event, the L-Class Female, Victoria claimed the top spot, followed by Delilah, Amazon Warrior and Touch the Cash.
The third race of the day, for 2-Year-Old horses, was arguably the best race of the meet, having produced the closest of finishes. Justify the Heat won by the narrowest of margins after outsprinting Uprising King and Katholic Boy.

The judges were tasked with reviewing this race on the big screen because the owners and fans of contending animals were not satisfied with the results, but the review only confirmed that the right decision had been made.
Thus Justify the Heat, of the Port Mourant Racing Stables, was awarded the first prize of $150,000, while Uprising King pocketed $75,000.
The fourth race of the day was the Cow Horse Race, which saw a horse named Brown defying all odds to emerge winner.
In the day’s fifth race, Touch Down picked up another win in the K & Lower event, carting off the $140,000 prize. Victoria came in second, while Stolen Diamond and Awesome Banner followed in that order.
Organized by rice giants Nand Persaud & Company Limited, the meet was supported by ANSA McAL, Nausrudeen Mohamed (Jumbo Jet) Truck and Auto Sales, Prem’s Electrical, 4R Bearing &Belts, Trophy Stall, and NTN TV among other sponsors.