Slingerz calls for championship rematch after thriller finish at Port Mourant

…as Dataman stays unbeaten

Hors- racing fans across Guyana are still buzzing after an unforgettable showdown last Sunday when Dataman once again stamped his authority on the local racing scene, defeating the previously-unbeaten Olympic Kremlin, the Horse of the Year for 2024, in a heart-stopping finish at Port Mourant Turf Club.
With that victory, Dataman now stands alone as the only unbeaten champion currently racing in Guyana, holding an extraordinary three consecutive major titles: the Guyana Cup, the President’s Cup, and now the Banks Classic. His wins have come at both major venues, with one triumph at Rising Sun Turf Club and two at Port Mourant, further cementing his reputation as a horse that delivers wherever he lines up.

In the immediate aftermath of the race, Slingerz Racing Stable, the owner of Olympic Kremlin, wasted no time in calling for a rematch of champions, igniting what many are already calling one of the greatest rivalries in modern Guyanese racing.
Sunday’s clash carried deep layers of history and emotion. Olympic Kremlin, undefeated prior to the Guyana Cup, returned to the competition following his dramatic scratch at Rising Sun, where he lost his rider at the gates. With no major injury sustained, his connections elected to give the champion time to regroup and come back stronger, a decision that led to Sunday’s much-anticipated appearance.
Known throughout Guyana as the ultimate closer, Olympic Kremlin surprised many by adopting a much sharper early pace, staying prominently involved from the opening strides rather than launching his trademark late charge. The change caught even his own camp off guard.
After the race, the trainer and rider acknowledged that the performance likely reflected a horse still sharpening his edge.
“He showed speed we’ve never asked him to show before,” one connection noted. “Some horses just need that prep race to come fully alive again.”
Despite finishing third, the Slingerz camp was relieved and encouraged, pleased above all to have their champion return safely and competitively to racing.
Dataman’s journey to Sunday’s victory was no less dramatic. In the tight-knit Guyanese racing community where horsemen know each other’s barns almost like family, it was no secret that Dataman had endured a non-threatening setback that briefly interrupted his training schedule.
His trainer, Mr Roberts candidly admitted after the race that Dataman was not supposed to run.
“To be honest, he wasn’t supposed to be there,” Roberts said. “He missed some training days, and we were leaning toward scratching him.”
However, once the long-awaited return of Olympic Kremlin was confirmed, Dataman’s owner made the call to run, confident it was safe and in the spirit of competition.
“We felt it was the right thing to do,” Roberts added. “The horse was sound. He was checked before and after the race, and the most important thing is that everyone came home safe.”
That decision paid off spectacularly.
What followed was one of the most thrilling finishes Guyanese racing has seen in years. Three horses charged across the line together, with Olympic Kremlin refusing to yield from start to finish and Dataman digging deep to preserve his unbeaten status.
The clock told its own story, a blistering 1:34, a time rarely seen locally and one that sent fans into a frenzy.
In defeat, Slingerz Racing Stable owner Javed Ali showed nothing but confidence.
“That was not our best Olympic Kremlin,” Ali said. “He’s fitter now than he was going into that race, and the signs we saw after he came home tell us there’s much more to come.”
Ali made it clear that his stable is ready and eager for another showdown.
“We want the rematch, and we want it as soon as possible. The next time, Guyana will see an Olympic Kremlin like never before.”
With Dataman unbeaten and Olympic Kremlin hungry for redemption, fans can already sense that the next chapter in this rivalry may be even more explosive.
In a country where racing is as much family as competition, Sunday’s clash reminded everyone why Guyana’s turf continues to captivate. If this was only the opening act, the rematch promises to be one for the history books and the fans will not be disappointed.