NEILOS THE ONE TO BEAT

By Kent Layne
Runner-up in last year’s trainer’s championship Kenny John holds a strong hand in the feature race, the Garrison Savanah Handicap on Saturday, with three horses in the five-horse field.
John will have Neilos, Rapunzel’s Dream and Solar Kitten.
The Garrison Savanah Handicap is the last race on the 8-race program and is worth $17,000 at 1570 meters for the 90-72 rated horses.
Locally bred Neilos is the overwhelming favourite as he has been one of the most consistent horses in training in Barbados for the last two years.
Neilos, a 9-year-old gelding, is the oldest horse in the feature race. He won two races last year in eight starts and also placed second twice, third three times, and fourth once. Among his wins was the Tanglewood Stakes and Trophy at 1800 meters.
Owned by Box Two, Neilos failed in his bid to become the sixth horse to win the Tanglewood Stakes twice, as he finished second in this year’s edition behind De People’s Champ.
He will be ridden by Eric Daniel at 122Ibs and will ride from Gate 4.
Canadian 6-year-old bred mare, Rapunzel’s Dream was the only horse to defeat her stablemate Neilos last year at 1570 meters, beating him on two occasions on May 28 and June 25.
However, her lone start this year was a dismal unplaced finish at 1570 metres on January 28.
Rasheed Hughes will ride Rapunzel’s Dream from Gate 1 at 118Ibs.
Solar Kitten owned by Darwin Clarke, a third entry for Kenny John, had a rough introduction in her first start in Barbados, finishing seventh behind winner Neilos at 1570 metres on September 3, 2022.
Solar Kitten, which finished 3rd in the 2019 $150,000 Fasig-Tipton Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs at 3 years-old, ran second to Sir Jimmy at 1100 metres before a poor 10th place finish on January 28 in her third race in Barbados.
Solar Kitten will be ridden by Rickey Walcott at 122lbs from Gate 5.
2020 Barbados Derby winner War Eagle won the Barbados Breeders Classic back in November, his second 1800-meter victory since winning the 2020 Midsummer Classic.
War Eagle outgunned Neilos in the Breeders Classic as he attempted to make all the running.
Trained by Victor Cheeseman and owned by K and C Stables, War Eagle ran unplaced in his two starts this year.
War Eagle will have Tashawn Hazelwood in the saddle from Gate 2 at 122Ibs.
Whatyouthink rounds off the field.
My selection is Neilos, Rapunzel’s Dream, Solar Kitten, and War Eagle.
Post time for race one is 1:30 p.m