The Message, ridden by Yap Drepaul of The Colin Elcock stable, returned to competition with a win on Sunday in the feature B class event when the Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club and Sports and Banks DIH the Champion of Champions horse race meet at Alness, Corentyne.
The nine-horse field had horses the likes of Night Crescendo, Jet Set Go and Zelik setting the pace down the backstretch, with The Message tucked in the pack. However, Jet Set Go broke away from the pack and could not hold his pace.
The horse was caught by The Message at the halfway mark of the homestretch to take the coveted $1M top prize and trophy compliments of Bank DIH Limited in the 1700m. Grande De Roja, with the Jamaican Andron Findley in the stirrups, Night Crescendo and Jet Set Go finished in descending order.
Some controversy surrounded the co-feature, Three-year-old 1400m race, which saw Captain Cook of the Jumbo Jet stable and Swing Easy of Sheriff stable crossing the line in a virtual dead heat. However the judges gave the benefit of the doubt to Captain Cook. Better than Gold came in third and Work Force ended in fourth position.
The win was worth $400,000 but according to a release from the organizers, patrons and members of stables emphasised the need for photo finish equipment.
Dubai Duchess, of Sheriff Stable, had a good start to win the F class event and the $400,000 first place purse and the Dr. Dwight Walrond trophy ahead of Delmur Gold and Face the Music.
Something Stylish of Customs Racing Stable, had a classy win from gate to pole for Guyana and West Indies Two-year-old horses in the 1200m race to capture $320,000 and trophy from Rock Sonna, Princess Kiara and Feel the Gold.
Damascus Dream chalked up another win for the Shariff stable in the G class 1600m race for $300,000 over Top of the Line, Miracle Run and Celebration Time. Watch My Shadow, also of the Elcock stable, easily won in the Two-year-old Guyana bred maiden 1100m.
The win was worth $250,000; Bad Romance was second.
Royal Champion, owned, trained and ridden by Rupert Ramnauth, returned to royalty in the H Class event to whip a top class field for the $200,000 winner’s money ahead of Prospectors Pride, Funny Sided and De Gump.
The Crawford stable won the I Class 1400m race when Savion, ridden by Winston Apadhu, defeated Funny Sided, De Gump and Try Again for $160,000. Lucky Gamble, straddled by Prem Chandra, won the JKL 1200m event and the $100,000 and trophy from Silver Kid and Simba.
Meanwhile, the champion Jockey was Drepaul ahead of Brian Blake from the Sheriff stable.
The Sheriff Stable was adjudged the winner ahead of the Elcock stable. Trainers Glendon Sooklall and Zaire Shariff of the Shariff stable were the top trainers and received trophies from Trophy Stall, Bourda Market, and the organizers.
