Both horses took the starting gate with several wins on their record, but with $900,000 at the poll, Jockey Blake piloted Lady Budapest to yet another victory, this time the feature race of the Kennard Memorial Phagwah Horse Race Meet on Sunday.
The race was one of eight on the 45th Annual Kennard Memorial Phagwah Horse Race meet.
The much-anticipated matchup saw a star-studded field which included Spit Fire, Unsettled, Goodwill Boy, Red and Lovely, Honey Flow, It My Choice, Keep on Swinging, Settling Star and Just Call me Boss. The animals were out in an even break for the one-mile race, and Honey Flow was out and away in front at the end of the first 200 metres, but by the time the race had covered 400 metres, Just Call me Boss was with Honey Flow.
The two animals opened the lead to four lengths, but as they got into the final turn, Spit Fire made a move to catch the leader, and Jockey Blake took the queue and whipped Lady Budapest, sending her into top gear as she went past Spit Fire, Just Call me Boss and then Honey Flow to win the race.
Goodwill Boy with Jockey Paul Delph on board made an excellent late move to finish second, ahead of Honey Flow and Keep on Swinging.
Meanwhile, there was much controversy in the H1 race, which saw T&T and Isn’t She Charming finishing in dead head. The race had a top prize of $250,000 and was over a distance of seven furlongs. The third place went to Cat Messiah with Its My Turn also placing.
Twelve horses shot out of the starting gate and all kept the blistering pace running into the Atlantic wind. As they crossed the finishing poll, Sweet Return made his last few strides and fell dead.
T&T and Isn’t She Charming finished in a dead heat
It was the fifth horse to have died moments after a race over the past four months, causing many to question what some trainers were giving to the animals before racing them, while some owners are questioning whether trainers were administering things that the owners may not approve of.
The race involving three-year-old Guyana bred horses saw Seven Dust taking the $150,000 first prize. The second place went to Genuine Risk ahead of Mary Ann and Puppy Tail. The race was over a distance of six furlongs.
The three-year-old Guyana bred maiden race was won by Mischievous Maker, with Miss Anjalie coming second and Saria third. The fourth place went to King Stanley.
The race classified as L, which was set for non-winners, was won by Flo Jo, with the second place going to Lil Dude. The other two placers were East Lion and Royal Blaze. The top prize was $100,000.
Meanwhile, the ‘E’ class, which was also for non-winners for 2016 and 2017, had a top prize of $400,000 and was won by Release the Beast, with Brave Sky running second. The third place went to Got to Go ahead of Climate Change.
Slim Shady Mootoosammy Racing Stables won the L Open race and took the $110,000 top prize. Placing second was I Am Back, ahead of Confusion and Blue Lightning. The race was over a distance of six furlongs. Winning the J3 and Lower race was Red Jet of the Samsundar Stables, to take the $140,000 top prize. Second was Miss Olympic and third Plain Land, ahead of Red Region.
The champion Jockey was Prem Chandra and the champion trainer was from the Nand Persaud Stables. (Andrew Carmichael)
