Grooms Evans Beckles and his son Shamar Griffith will be preparing their charges to clash in the first leg of the Barbados triple crown – the Barbados Guineas – for West Indian-bred three-year-olds tomorrow at the Garrison Savannah. The action follows a six-month break from horse racing due to Covid-19. The feature event will be going 1570 meters and carries a purse of $36 000 plus subscriptions of $12,750.
The Mark “Bird” Armstrong-owned and trained three-year-old colt Déjà Vu, has three wins from six starts, has not finished any worse than third, and is the overwhelming favourite to take the first leg of the Barbados triple crown as his sire Aston Martin did, winning the Guineas in 2012. Déjà Vu will not be looking to play second fiddle like his dam Vanity Affair who finished second in the 2013 running of the Guineas.
Young Shamar Griffith, groom for Déjà Vu, will be going after his second Guineas win after taking care of Nikita who had won the 2013 running. He has now joined the Armstrong barn who also own Aston Martin and Vanity Affair.
Déjà Vu will take 125 pounds and will be ridden by Rasheed Hughes. Shamar’s dad, Evans, is groom for the impressive looking War Eagle which won his first start as a two-year-old last year August 1. He has not raced since after being injured. War Eagle’s trainer Victor Cheeseman has worked very hard with Evans on getting the big three-year-old colt by Eagles Peak ready for his toughest assignment. Cheeseman will be going after his fifth Guineas win in nine years after winning his first two with Aston Martin and Nekitta respectively.
Beckles will be going after his first Guineas win as he had looked after Northern Star who had a disappointing race that day finishing down the field in the 2016 running of the event.
War Eagle has drawn gate 4 with Antonio Bishop aboard carrying 123 pounds as all colts will carry in the Guineas. War Eagle is the only undefeated horse in the field.
Horse number 1 Conflict of Interest finished second in the Michael Parravicino Memorial Hopeful Breeders’ Stakes and Trophy on February 15 to Déjà Vu going Saturday’s trip of 1570 meters. He had looked all over a winner running from the front but was caught a furlong from home by the winner.
Conflict of Interest won for the first time on Boxing Day defeating Ollivander into second place going the sprint trip of 1100 meters. The Richard Deane-trained runner looks prep to take his first win over the 1570 meters trip. Affrie Ward will ride Conflict of Interest.
Ollivander, the second entry for Cheeseman, broke his maiden on Gold Cup Day March 3 in the Villa at Sandy Lane Trophy and he is one of four horses in the field to win going 1570, others being Déjà Vu, Mykonos, Ruth and Light Fantastic.
Ollivander is a full brother to champion creole Sirius Black .
Rickey Walcott will ride Ollivander haven chosen him over Conflict of Interest for this important encounter. The rest of the field Includes Oprah, Dominus,Temple Dancer, Ruth, St Davids, Mykonos and Light Fantastic.
The Guineas will be race 8 on the 9-race card and will run off at 4.20 p.m. Post time for the first race will be 12.30 p.m.
My Selections are Déjà Vu,War Eagle, Ollivander, Conflict of Interest.