Derby Fever has gripped the Santa Rosa Race Track! With just a few days to go before the Royal Oak Derby is run off (September 24) -- the final leg of the Triple Crown -- the excitement is building up more with the foreign invasion of horses this year -- Jamaica and Barbados.

However, there were not many railbirds at the track to see the gallops of the entrants in the Derby except the regular turfites who turn up on a Sunday morning.

There are arguments that this is a poor crop of three year-olds in the Derby with no outstanding horse that can take the top prize.

The Barbadian and Jamaican horses are going to add more interest in the 2000-metre event along with some of the top jockeys from Barbados, Jamaica and Canada coming to ride.

The Barbadians are banking on Top Lady, Bachelor Boy, Piarco and Makairos, while Jamaica is represented by Swing By, which is the fourth highest money earner in Jamaica.

Punters would be backing the local horses, Sara’s Music, Greek Princess and Millionaire to lower the colours of the foreign entrants.

Veterinarian Dr. Clive Rahamut Ali Snr. (left) and
his elder brother, Dr. Clan Rahamut Ali, (second
from right), a dentist from Philadelphia, USA,
who is on vacation lead in Darling Luann,
trained by Maniram Maharaj (right) into
winners’ enclosure with jockey
C. Husbands in the saddle.

Jockey R. Hasranah scored an upset win aboard
As Time Goes By on Saturday. Trainer Harriram
Gobin (second from right) leads in the horse
after the race.

As usual, there is much picong going on among the owners and trainers in the rich race which carries a total purse of $300,000.

Owner Baskaran Bassawh, who owns Millionaire, says he will make trainer John O’Brien a millionaire like himself as he is confident his horse will win the Blue Riband event.

Bassawh is bringing down top Canadian jockey Barbadian Patrick Husbands to ride Millionaire. Owner Bernard Dulal-Whiteway has booked top Jamaican jockey Charles Hussey to ride Swing By, while Brian Harding, who is campaigning in Jamaica will get the mount on Top Lady.

Turfites are hoping that the connections of Swing By are not bringing this Jamaican horse to either “swing” by or “mamaguay” punters as the filly is expected to be among the favourites to win the rich event.

There are rumours that Sara’s Music is under a cloud, but owner/trainer Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj would not allow the horse to run if the colt is not fully fit.

Don’t be misled by news reports, one trainer said.

The invasion of the foreign horses and jockeys is going to add to the glamour of the day’s racing.

There are a number of incentives Angostura are giving away including prizes for grooms and punters.

The Arima Race Club (ARC) is hoping for an 11-race card on Republic Day.