Dominus tracking ninth career victory

By Kent Layne

After two weeks of cancellations due to heavy showers and the resulting soft track, The Francis Cozier Barbados Breeders’ Thoroughbred Association Barbados Sprint Stakes Trophy Grade 3 for locally bred horses will run off at the Garrison Savannah tomorrow.

The Breeder’s sprint at 1100 meters will be race 8 of an appetizing 10-race card. It has a purse of $30.000 plus subscriptions of $5,000. And runs off at 4 p.m.

Sir David Seale-owned Dominus will be going after his ninth career victory. He has previously won eight races from 11 starts and has only been beaten twice at the 1100 meters distance.

Dominus the highest-rated horse in the field at  106 is also chasing the record number of career wins by a horse bred at Sir David’s Hopefield farm which is 10 held by Night Shift who raced at the Garrison and Ginger Man who campaigned in Trinidad and Tobago and once held the record of 10 wins in a single season in 1981 for a locally bred horse in that country, giving Sir David his first champion breeder title.

The Andrew Nunes-trained Dominus will come up against Semper Fi, the only locally bred horse to have defeated him at Saturday’s trip.

Rey Williams has the mount and breaks from gate 2 carrying 132 pounds.

The Robert Peirce-trained Steve and Allen-owned Semper Fi although not rated as high as his rival also has a nice career profile of 12 starts five wins, two seconds and three third places and is rated 82.

Semper Fi had defeated Dominus two years ago when they were three-years old but never met since. Semper Fi an older half-brother to a useful three-year-old, Afternoon Delight. Delano Lopez has the ride from gate 1 and will carry 132 pounds.

2019 Breeders Sprint champion Joshua has not won since that victory but will be coming guns blazing this time around.

The oldest horse in the field at 12 was defeated by Dominus in his last three starts being unplaced each time but should pick up a cheque in this five-horse field.

The Sean Hall-owned and trained animal will be ridden by Deshawn Gaskin carrying 132 pounds.

Horse number five Trojan from the Gay Smith stable has not raced for 160 days but should run in the money. The Edward Walcott-trained animal will ride from gate 5 with jockey Antonio Bishop taking 132 pounds.

The Code rounds off the field.

My selection: Dominus, Semper Fi, Joshua and Trojan. Post time for race 1 is 12.30 p.m.