A large crowd witnessed Donut Prince of the Colin Elcock stable upstaging a quality field to take the feature C Class event of fifth Guyana Cup horse race event at the Port Mourant Turf Club on Sunday.
It was one of the biggest upsets of the year as it defied all odds to race away with the coveted $2M top prize and the Guyana Cup trophy, which was sponsored by beverage giants Banks DIH Limited.
Donut Prince, owned by Pat Elcock and ridden by overseas-based Guyanese jockey Michael Semple, replaced defending champion horse Miss Republic, which had an injury.
The race was a close one from gate to pole among 14 horses over a distance of 1800m. Marathon Man led the pack in the early stage but Donut Prince, always well positioned and skillfully handled by Semple, took the inside just as they banked the homestretch and was never caught again. Marathon Man, Zelik and Miss Orientate came in descending order.
Captain Crook of The Jumbo Jet Stable and ridden by Yap Drepaul won the co-feature Three-year-old West Indies bred event ahead of Work Force, Swing Easy and Celebrating Love. The win was worth $1.5M and a trophy.
The $1M prize money and trophy up for grabs in the Two-year-old West Indies bred 1000m race was won by Serenity, also of the Jumbo Jet stable and ridden by Drepaul. Flying in The Park, Happy Choice and Come Dance with Me rounded out the money.
Jumbo Jet got another win in the E Class 1500m event when Got to Go, which was also ridden by Drepaul, defeated Fairy Landing, Pinch D cash and Night Crescendo to take home the $800,000 top prize and a trophy. However, it was one of the hottest races of the day in the Three-year-old 1200m event for Guyana bred horses that provided the biggest reaction from the crowd. Wicked Intention of the Persaud stable and ridden by Jamaican Kevin Blake was in a neck and neck battle with Super Cat of the Rommel Jagroop stable for the top prize of $600,000 and trophy. In the end Wicked Intention won by a photo finish over Super Cat.
The G Class 1000m event for the $500,000 first prizes and a trophy was taken by Maya from Prado’s Gold Megan’s Choice and Momzelle. The winner of the Guyana bred Two-year-old 1000m race was Blessings from I Want Revenge and Baby Flyer for the 500,000 top prize and a trophy.
The Gap did just that to take top honours in the H class 1200M event and the $400,000 winner’s money and the Innovation Construction trophy from Royal Champion, Prospectors Pride and Pixie Fire. Infinity won the I1 1200M event with a first prize of $200,000 for the Digicel trophy and stakes from Mona Lisa, Princess Renuka and Savion. Kevin took the I and Lower maiden event worth $150,000 over 1000m.
The champion jockey was Yap Drepaul while the champion trainer was R Ramroop; Jumbo Jet Stable raced away with the champion stable award, compliments of Wood Pecker Products and the organizers.
