Infrared nets his maiden stakes

Even one-to-one favourite Infrared came good at last, winning his first stakes race yesterday when he made every pole a winning one in the Coolmore Home of Champions feature at the Garrison Savannah.

Jalon Samuel sent the chestnut to the front in the 1800-meter race with Ceroc in second in the early stages. With the first quarter in a slow 25.4 and a half in 50.0, Infrared was relaxed as the pace quickened going towards the nine-furlong start with the grey Celestial Storm closing like a train.

Infrared winning the feature race with Jalon Samuel in the saddle.

Infrared shot clear to win by 5 1\2 lengths to stop the clock in 1. 50.2. It was the second consecutive win for Samuel in the Coolmore ”Home of Champions” Stakes after winning it with Northern Star last year.

Celestial Storm ran on to be second once again just like she did on Boxing Day and race fans will wait to see if her connections will send her to the Gold Cup or back to defend her Spa sprint crown of 2018.

Debonaire David ran on to be third getting the better of his archrival Refire who had defeated him in their last two outings and taking fourth spot this time around.

Trainer Liz Deane had a great day winning three races to be the second trainer in Barbados’ history to have 600 winners with the late Bill Marshall still leading all trainers

Yesterday, she sent out Mary Stewart to win race 2 the Master Craftsman Handicap to move on to 598. She also won race 5 The Rock of Gibraltar Handicap with No Not Again to go to 599. Deane who was awarded a Silver Crown of Merit for her success in horse racing on January 2, 2010, was blessed with more success when she saddled Brigadier Wood in the Australia Handicap giving her the sweet 600 landmark.

Deane has the record for winning the most races in a day when she won seven races in the late 1990s. The skillful trainer is also the only one to finish first and second in two Sandy Lane Gold Cups. She did it in 2017 with Whiskey for Me and Who’s Weaving and then again in 2012 with Dancing David and John Brian.  

Anderson Trotman and Jalon Samuel scored two wins to be the most successful jockeys on the day. Deane won the most races on the day’s card

Next race day will be February 2.