Sino-Truk Sprint Horse Racing New Year’s Day 2024: Unbeaten Spankhurst aiming to pip Bossalina again

Newly-crowned Horse of the Year Spankhurst will have intentions to spoil his challengers’ New Year’s Day wish in today’s feature event of the Sino-Truck Sprint Horse Racing at Rising Sun Turf Club, West Coast Berbice.
Spankhurst will aim to defend his title in the curtain event of the seven-race New Year’s Day card promoted by Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Racing Committee (JJTRC).
This race will be the opening day of the new 2024 racing season. Bossalina, who was beaten by Spankhurst on Boxing Day at Port Mourant racetrack, gets two ‘bites’ of the cherry this time around.
A victory over Spankhurst could keep the tongues wagging, as many felt Bossalina should have been named Horse of the Year.
Their argument was based on her defeat of last year’s Guyana Cup winner Alado, who also defeated her last year. She holds a consistent record – having finished third in the Guyana Cup to Easy Time.

However, Spankhurst, who closed his season with an unbeaten two from two record, winning the 1200-metre Sprint Classic on Guyana Cup Day in August, then closing off the season in his next start. He was on Boxing Day stretched out over one mile.
Spankhurst scored under a determined gate-to-wire success to withstand the challenge of Bossalina. Little did his connection, Jumbo Jet Racing Stable realise that that success would lead to him being named Horse of the Year under new trainer Damain Dharamjit.
That success gave Spankhurst another first as he was written as top horse on the walls at the first-ever awards ceremony for horsemen and equine athletes last Friday night.
Spankhurst does not have an easy job in the curtain as horses bred in Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, and Brazil are seeking to dethrone him. Time will tell whether the USA-bred Spankhurst will defend his unbeaten tag.
Meanwhile, John Bull, who defeated Easy Time in a match race, is now in the six-horse line-up.
The Slingerz Stable-owned Brazilian runner loves to be on the pace and is expected to match strides with Spankhurst from the beginning. If this does happen, then Bossalina would be the biggest threat to both horses. She has proven she is most effective sitting off the pace, and then launching her challenge.
The other three horses for the feature event of the Sino Truck Classic are newly imported Canadian-bred Stolen Money, who finished third to Spankhurst and Bossalina.
The roan grey Stolen Money gets another chance to boost his image. His quick turnaround could be his undoing. Among the other runners are Looking at Heaven and Early Bird.
There will be six other competitive races on the day’s programme with Derby winner Firecracker returning after her defeat to Guyana-bred Rachel. Six horses are also declared to start.
Post time for the seven-race card is 12:00h local time.