Owner/trainer MANIRAM “Boboy” MAHARAJ
(right) seems to be saying to Jamaican trainer
ANDREW NUNES (left) and Barbadian trainer
WILLIAM CLARKE (second from right) that his
horse Sara’s Music will win the rich Royal Oak
Derby if fully fit. Looking on is top Jamaican
jockey CHARLES HUSSEY (second from left).

Owners and trainers who have entrants in the Royal
Oak Derby were on hand to witness the draw
for positions of their horses in the prestigious
event. Front row from left: Trainer GARY HEARN
and owner K. MAHARAJ. Back row seated from
left: Top trainer JOHN O’BRIEN, owner DEO
MAHARAJ and trainer HARRIRAM “Pepsi” GOBIN.

A MASSIVE turnout of race fans is expected at the Santa Rosa Race Track, Arima, on Republic Day (Monday September 24) for the rich Royal Oak Derby, which this year has created greater interest with the participation of Barbadian and Jamaicans horses in the prestigious event.

A total of 16 horses will vie for a total purse of $300,000 of which Angostura Limited has donated $165,000.

Angostura has been the sponsor of the Royal Oak Derby for the past 18 years but this year’s Derby will bring back past memories of the Caribbean rivalry between horses from Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad when the event was staged at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain.

This year’s Royal Oak Derby is described as a historic one since racing was centralised at Arima more than a decade ago.

In addition to the foreign “invasion” of horses, a number of top jockeys from the Caribbean will also be matching their skills with local riders. There are three major events on the 12-race card.

Turfites are arguing that this year’s Derby is a wide open race leaving punters guessing as to who can win the final leg of the Triple Crown for West Indian-bred Three-year-olds over 2,000 metres.

However, there is going to be no Triple Crown winner this year but local owner Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj will try to become the first owner/breeder/trainer to win a Derby with his entrant Sara’s Music.

The Barbadians and the Jamaican horses are going to make an interesting race since the four runners all have the credentials to capture the first prize.

The Bajans are banking on Top Lady, Piarco and Bachelor Boy, while the Jamaican-bred Swing By, owned by local turfite Bernard Dulal-Whiteway and his son, Graeme, some argue is the horse to beat.

The filly reportedly “burned up” the track during a gallop on Wednesday.

Punters are banking on Greek Princess, trained by Gary Hearn to lower the colours of the foreign horses.

Among the top riders coming for the day’s event are Canadian-based jockeys Patrick Husbands and Jonathon Jones, both of Barbados, along with four other Barbadian jockeys, Anderson Trotman, Ricardo Hibbert, Chris Husband, and Juan Crawford.

Coming out of Jamaica are top jockeys Charlie Hussey and Brian Harding.

Angostura is offering incentives to trainers, grooms and jockeys and has also planned a day of family activities which include Pony Rides, Bouncy Castle, Face Painting, Balloon Giveaways, Free Popcorn, Snow-cone and Cotton Candy. Entertainment will be provided by the Angostura Woodbrook Playboyz. President Max Richards is expected to be on hand for the Derby.

Arima Race Club President GERARD FERREIRA
(right) is all smiles with the $165,000 cheque
he received from Angostura Marketing Manager
NIGEL BISSOON.

From left: Arima Race Club stewards RICHARD
HALFIDE, Cedric Coussement having a chat with
Appeal Court Judge WENDELL KANGALOO.