Guyana Cup horse race meeting 2023: Rachel lost the race, but not the war

Defeated in her determined stretch battle with the eventual winner Firecracker in the 1,600-metre Associated Construction Derby Stakes, one of three premier events run off during the Guyana Cup horse race meeting held at the Rising Sun Turf Club (RSTC) on Sunday, August 13, the mount Rachel will inevitably be remembered whenever Guyana’s horse racing history is discussed.
This roan/grey three-year-old filly was beaten but was certainly not disgraced. She was seen as a winner in a head-bobbing battle with Firecracker entering the homestretch, and patrons and horsemen were drawn to their feet in awe.
Rachel Alexandra is the darling of the American racing circuit. She is a retired American Thoroughbred racing mare that was named Horse of the Year after winning the 2009 Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown. She was the first filly in 85 years to win that race.
Although the local horse Rachel lost in the Guyana Cup, this ‘petite’ filly of Rock Moviestar, whose dam is an ‘unnamed’ daughter of Kabila, has boosted the local breeding industry. Her battling qualities have gained her more respect than the winner. The unofficial distance between winner Firecracker and runner-up Rachel was closer to a neck separating those horses.
On the 15th staging of the Guyana Cup ten-race card, a day when the country’s biggest social sporting event is held, Rachel’s runner-up finish took her earnings for the season closer to $3 million.
This newspaper, speaking to her owner/breeder Bronso Cheefoon on her performance, name, and what aspect of her defeat had brought her respect, was told, “She grew up as a young horse on plenty cow’s milk. I never used any imported supplements. The first time she raced was in last year’s President’s Cup; she ran fourth. She met with a lot of interference in the race and still managed to finish fourth.”
Pressed to find out why Rachel finished unplaced over 1,600 metres at the Port Mourant Turf Club’s (PMTC’s) Derby on July 30, 2023, when in her previous start at PMTC she had finished second to T&T-bred Gypsy King, with Red Ruby placing third in that race, the ecstatic Cheefoon responded, “It had a lot of rain, and we could not prepare her properly for that race; for this race, we got enough time to prepare her. And that race, although well beaten, brought her on for this race. I knew she will run well because, going into the PMTC’s Derby race, we did not have enough time to train her.
“She is also a late foal horse, and is now strengthening up. I felt she could spring the surprise. Although beaten, that performance, to me, she was a winner, not only for me, but for Guyana breeding industry. She won at Bush Lot, but Sunday’s performance will be remembered most by me and the people of Guyana.”
Cheefoon, advising other breeders, declared, “When you want to breed a good horse, send your mare to a good stallion; not any stallion, and not any mare. Get a good stallion, and give your mare and foal cow’s milk also. For me, that is working.”
Sharing the story of Rachel’s name, Cheefoon related, “We were watching some American races, and saw Rachel Alexandra run, and my daughter suggested we name her Rachel Alexandra; but we were advised that is a protected name, we could not use it. And (so we) named her Rachel. But it did not only start there. When she born, she was a dark/bay filly. We felt she resembled Rachel Alexandra, and that is how she got the name, but her colour changed to grey as she grew older. Her sire is grey.”
Dad John Cheefoon (70-year-old), reached on the success of his son’s Rachel, said: “My father used to always breed good horses. My brother and I took the same pattern. Now our ‘off-springs’ are doing the same. There was a time in Guyana’s racing, several years ago, (when) we had the best horses, such as Flashmonger, who won 20 straight races from 21 races. He was out of Carpetmonger/Humble Princess, an ordinary mare. While my brother James had North Star, and we continued to breed horses.”
A veteran horseman, John Cheefoon shared his opinion on the development of the sport from his period to now. “Firstly, we used to race two days: Saturday and Sunday. So, if your horse not fit enough, it will come on for the next day (Sunday). It was nice at that time.”
He then heaped praise on today’s race organisers by saying, “Now I see young (Nasrudeen) Mohamed jr is improving it, and it is going to get better. The young man is investing a lot of money in the sport for the benefit of the country and the sport. The country has to support him, and not criticise him. Horse racing is team work, and the owners, breeders, sponsors and patrons will benefit from his labour of love.
“In my time, the late Uncle Sonny (Habibula), Mr Crawford and the late Judge Kennard were the people who saved it and developed it.”