Horse Racing Sports Trainer Armstrong does double Barbados Today17/02/20200368 views Trainer Mark Armstrong struck luck twice in back to back years when Deja Vu won The Michael Parravicino Memorial Hopeful Breeders Stakes and Trophy on Saturday. Armstrong also won the event in 2019 with Naomi. By winning the race, Déjà Vu copied his dam Vanity Affair which won the Hopeful Stakes in 2013. He will now be looking to walk in his sire Aston Martin’s footsteps and win the first leg of the triple crown, the Barbados Guineas slated for May 23rd. Rasheed Hughes, who was enjoying his third stakes win in a row after winning the Diamonds International on Boxing Day and the Coolmore Home of Champion Stakes aboard Celestial Storm, stalked early pacesetters Conflict of Interest and Ollivander. Conflict of Interest set fractions of 26.4, 51.4 115.4 and looked like he would have made all the running. Deja Vu crosses the line to win the Michael Parravicino Hopeful Breeders Stakes and Trophy. Hughes niggled at his mount as he went into second position past a fading Ollivander. Undisputed also loomed dangerously as they had approached the three-furlong marker. Conflict of Interest turned into the home straight with a slight lead over Déjà Vu but he showed a tremendous turn of foot to gallop his field into the ground by three Lengths and single his intention as the leading 3- year-old for 2020. It was the second time in three years that Hughes had won the event after winning in 2018 with Jericho. Conflict of Interest finished second, to deny Rickey Walcott back to back wins after winning with Naomi last year. Semper Fi ran impressively to finish third again after also placing third on Boxing Day, and in only his third start makes an interesting story for 2020. The Andrew Nunes trained Undisputed finished fourth and has lots of room for improvement. He looked at one point as if he would run away with the lead and will be one to watch in the triple crown races. Winning trainer and owner Mark Armstrong was all smiles after the race and is looking forward to the classics later in the year. The next race day will be on March 7, when the prestigious Sandy Lane Gold Cup comes off.