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By Kent Layne
Trainer Victor Cheeseman will be going after a record equaling sixth Barbados Guineas win at the Garrison Savannah tonight.
Cheeseman’s past five Guineas winners were all favourites starting with Aston Martin in 2012, Nekitta in 2013, Poetic Licence in 2015, Fleurette in 2017 and Gandalf in 2018. However, he will be going into the 72nd edition of the Guineas with the second favourite in three-year-old filly Magic Millions who was third in the Boxing Day Trophy and second in the Hopeful Stakes to early favourite Afternoon Delight.
The Barbados Guineas, the first leg of the Barbados Triple Crown will be race seven on the eight-race card worth $68,000Â and going 1570 meters. It is slated for 7:45 p.m,
Cheeseman trails only retired trainer Chally Jones and is looking to win a classic in the triple crown series this year after going winless in the three legs last year for the first time since winning his first classic which came in the Guineas in 2012 with Aston Martin.
Magic Millions, owned by Mr Arjay, is a brown three-year-old filly by Derby Kitten out of Nile Queen. Magic Millions comes from a classic winning family as her granddam Chimchimery is a full sister to 1996 Guineas winner Incitatus. The smart three-year-old filly is likely to add a second classic success for her breeder John Humphrey who is also the breeder of Nekitta.
Magic Millions won her first two starts at two last year fending off Get Crackin in the early stages to score by 1 1\4 over stablemate Francine on September 21 at 1000 meters. She then returned on October 9 to defeat Princess Julia at 1100 meters. Rasheed Hughes will ride 119 Ibs out of gate 6. Hughes is going after a hattrick of Guineas wins.
Steve and Allan Madoo’s Afternoon Delight targets a rare piece of history as only four horses have won the Boxing Day Trophy, Hopeful Stakes and Guineas in a row. They are Kandahar, Victoria Regina, Apostle and Fleurette. Top trainer Robert Peirce is looking for a third Guineas win overall and is very sweet on his filly’s chances.
Afternoon Delight who is the only three-year-old in the field is undefeated at 1570 meters. Winning the Boxing Day Trophy and Hopeful Stakes at the trip could deliver a tremendous feat with her front running style once again.
Afternoon Delight’s sire Artistodemus sired 2019 Guineas winner FarFromova and her grand dam Royal Caviler produced 2016 Guineas winner Steven Allan. This is testimony to the fact that she comes from a classic-winning family. Both Farfromova and Steven Allan were trained by Peirce. Rickey Walcott has the call at 119Ibs from gate 7.
Princess Julia, a daughter of 2011 Guineas winner Slip Stream, comes off a third place last race day behind Kitten’s Star and Hurricane at 1100 meters but had won for first time in her third start over Gabby’s Girl also at 1100 meters. Owned by Barry Bishop and trained by Naz Issa, Princess Julia placed second in the Boxing Day Trophy then defeating Magic Millions on February 22. Rey Williams will leave gate 10 carrying 119Ibs.
Mr Arjay’s Kittens Star, a winner last race day, is improving leaps and bounds and displayed top class speed to make all the running to win The Frank Corbin Memorial last race day.
Trainer Richard Deane looks to win his first classic of his career after being runner-up on so many occasions,  including second place in the Derby in 1990 and 2020.
Kitten’s Star, although yet to win at 1570 meters, his pedigree suggests he should get the trip. He has been going very well at morning workouts. Teshawn Hazelwood will be in the saddle of Kitten’s Star and will be carrying 124 pounds out of gate 11.
The rest of the field includes Hurricane, De Code, Jaguar, Bob Kat, Pussy Kat, Cap Recat, Tamar, Get Crackin.My selection: Magic Millions, Afternoon Delight, Princess Julia, Kittens Star.
Post time for first race is 4:15pm.
