Has a David vs Goliath rivalry been started?: New owner of Spankhurst eyeing win of Guyana Cup

…Fazal Habibulla is new trainer of Spankhurst

He did not anticipate this, but his entry into the realm of the proverbial sport of kings is now scripted as the start of a David vs Goliath rivalry in horse racing.
‘Giant conqueror’ Jermaine Sripal, a budding supermarket magnate from New Amsterdam in Region Six, has ‘crossed the bridge’ and bought 2023 Horse of the Year, Spankhurst, from the Jumbo Jet Racing Stables (JJRC) in Region Five.
Spankhurst is the leading money earner this season, having won two of his four races. Based on that success, he is now pre-race favourite to cop this year’s Guyana Cup, which would be run off at the Rising Sun Turf Club (RSTC) on the West Coast of Berbice on Sunday, August 11, 2024.

Sripal is an unknown in the industry, but is famously known for the J’s Supermarket business. His family’s bloodline in the horse racing arena is not deep-rooted, but he has declared, “My family (members) owned horses long ago, but I never had any inkling about owning horses. About four years ago, I went to the races, I heard people speaking about horse racing, and realised this is a very popular sport.”
Sripal revealed the seamless transition to his new hobby on Sunday after buying the six-year-old Canadian-bred Spankhurst. “The opportunity came up, I saw Junior (Nasrudeen Mohamed) had a lot of horses, he mentioned while speaking to me that he could sell me a horse; so, when the opportunity presented itself, I jumped at it,” he said.
“I was reading about Spankhurst and following his exploits. I enquired what is needed to own a horse. I realized you do not need to have your own track, but can own a horse without the responsibility,” Sripal continued.
“Junior’s involvement with the transfer of the horse has been a dream. I do not know much people who would have done what Junior did for me. He got a trainer for me, a groom, and everything that the horse needs to move into the new stable. He made owning a horse more accessible. If I wasn’t offered all these things, I would have remained a spectator of the sport,” he disclosed. “That’s genuine consideration.”
When asked the reason for selling Spankhurst, Junior Nasrudeen, who represents Jumbo Jet Racing (JJR), related: “When Spankhurst was imported two years ago, we offered Stuart Gonzalez to buy him before he raced; he did not buy him. Spankhurst won the Sprint Classic and proved better going long.” Junior continued, “I have been speaking to Jermaine about the sport, and being a young person like myself, I recognised he wants to own a good horse. He likes Spankhurst, and I offered it to him. He was probably surprised and wondering why.”
Junior further said, “I am encouraging people to get involved in the sport to help develop it, they are the future. Jermaine appears to be a person who, along with his family, will be in the sport for a very long time. He has bought the best horse in the country. If Spankhurst wins this year’s Guyana Cup, it will send a very positive message (to) prospective owners, (and) Jermaine will have lots of fun with Spankhurst. I suggested Uncle Fazal as the trainer for Spankhurst. He is one of the finest trainers in Guyana. He is a two-time Guyana Cup trainer. He is highly respected and very outspoken. I know we will have to buy something exceptionally fast to beat uncle Fazal with Spankhurst.”
Junior also pointed out, “Jermaine might be small in stature: five-foot six inches, but (he) is now seen as towering ‘David’ to triumph over towering figures in the winners’ enclosure when coming up against the six-foot-plus Goliath (me) representing Jumbo Jet.”
Chipping in, Sripal explained, “I bought the horse because I felt he is the best horse in Guyana, and for the Guyana Cup. My trainer has already advised that we bought a bullet, but Jumbo Jet might buy a rocket. Who knows, we may shoot down the rocket. Uncle Fazal loves this sort of challenge.”
Sharing what excited his interest in becoming an owner, Sripal related, “I am a big cricket fan. In any spectator sport – cricket, football, or athletics – everybody wants to be the best and follow the best. Horse racing is a spectator sport; you’re not involved (in) riding or training, (but) you are just as involved as the jockey or the trainer. As you are urging on the horse to win the race as they battle down to the finish line, you can feel you are part of the action in horse racing. Seeing your horse win could be an adrenaline rush that we all have.”
Regarding his experience at racing horses, Sripal admitted, “I do not know much about horses, but Junior and my trainer Fazal are making me very comfortable. I have been told luck is one of the main ingredients in the sport. Who knows? I might get lucky.”
In regard to the prospect of owning other horses, Sripal revealed, “I want to own horses at the lower classes as well, by December or early next year. In any sport, passion is the driving force, sometimes things do not work out how you want (them) to. I am in the sport to have fun, and will be in it for a very long time. I am aware that you may need certain infrastructure with horse ownership. I am on the learning curve for now; when I gain more experience, then I could explore what the future holds for me in this sport.”