CP Got Even won the feature C1 and Lower event of the eighth annual Guyana Cup denying the favoured Elle’s Vision the elusive `Triple’ at the nation’s biggest horse race fixture.
The Cinderella story came to a stunning end at the overflowing Port Mourant Turf Club when back-to-back winner Elle’s Vision missed the chance to become the first horse to record a three-peat of wins in the marquee event.
The mare from the Jagdeo Racing Stables placed fourth with CP Got Even in first, followed by Treacle and Princess She is Not.
CP Got Even, owned by the R.N Poonai Stables, ran the nine furlong event in a scorching 1m:55:56s to pocket the appetizing $4m first prize.
For CP Got Even and jockey Paul Delph, the race unravelled in an almost faultless manner.
Delph jumped the Colin Elcock-trained steed smart out of the gates, positioning him on the heels of early pacesetters Appealing Harvest and Elle’s Vision who took the 11-horse field along at a generous gallop.
There he stayed until Rad Drepaul on Treacle made a bold move on the home turn, sweeping up Princess She Is Not in the process.
As the two entered the home stretch, to a loud roar of the thousands of turfites, it looked as though the race was either one to win. But under a strong Delph drive, CP Got Even under the fading light, dismissed them with the cold authoritative swat of a devastating finishing kick to win by about two lengths.
Before the feature event there were seven other races.
Here is the summary:
Race 1 (J1 and Lower)
Affinity ($250,000)
Smarty Light
The Road is Mine
Race 2 (G1 and Lower)
Damascus Dream ($600,000)
Joyful Victory
Captain Crook
Rosetta
Race 3 (2 Year-Old Guyana Bred)
Devil Woman ($600,000)
Slim Shady
Secret Escape
Race 4 (I and Lower)
I Will Get Another ($350,000)
Party Time
Easy To Win
Savion
Race 5 (E and Lower)
Right To Rule ($800,000)
Settle in Seattle
Princess Alisha
Captain Crook
Race 6 (2 Year-Old West Indian Bred)
Storm Bird ($1.5M)
Midnight Blue
It’s My Choice and Settling Star (Finished in a dead heat )
Race 7 (3 Year-Old Guyana and W.I Bred)
Unsettled ($2M)
Settling Jet
Release The Beast
Quiet Dancer
The champion jockey was Randolph Richmond with two wins while the Bacchus Stables lifted the stable owner’s trophy.
In excess of $25M in cash and stakes were awarded yesterday.
His Excellency President Donald Ramotar was a special guest at the event.
Some major sponsors included Jumbo Jet Auto Sales, Banks DIH Limited, Hand in Hand Insurance, B.M Soat Auto Sales, K & B Mining, El Dorado Trading and Inshan Bacchus Trucking Service.
The ‘Sport of Kings’ continues on September 7 at No. 66 Village. (Emmerson Campbell)
