It’s never a gamble when Jalon Samuel is in the saddle.
The 29-year-old Samuel extended his lead as the winningest Sandy Lane Gold Cup jockey when he captured his sixth title aboard It’s A Gamble at the Garrison Savannah Saturday evening.
He crossed the finish line just ahead of Tallhachiebridge ridden by four-time Gold Cup winner Patrick Husbands, while So Suave with Antonio Bishop in the saddle placed third.
It added to his previous Gold Cup victories in 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020.
Speaking with members of the media moments after his victorious ride, Samuel said he was happy to increase his lead over Husbands.
“It means a lot to extend the lead again to give him something to catch,” he said.
In response to a suggestion that Husbands almost caught him at the finish line, Samuel responded, “He was coming but he didn’t get there.”
Samuel said even though he was not considered a favourite coming into the race, he always believed he would win.
He said it was especially special to have achieved it under the lights at the Garrison Savannah.
“It feels very good. I’m glad that they gave me the lights for the first big day in about three years, so it was very good.
“People have me as the underdog a lot of times. I was never a favourite in a Gold Cup,” he said.
Samuel’s first place finish gave owner Mark Goodridge his first ever Gold Cup win.
Goodridge was left disappointed in 2020 when Bodie Tap finished second in the Gold Cup behind Night Prowler.
Speaking to Barbados TODAY while being swarmed by supporters, an elated Goodridge, an attorney-at-law, could not contain his joy.
He explained that the race went according to plan, as Bodie Tap stuck to the script.
“I’m very excited and pleased for all of Barbados to turn back the big charge of [Ken] Ramsay. Samuels was confident and he gave me confidence,” he said.
“I was very confident because Bodie Tap did what he had to do and Samuels did the rest.”
