Bishop wins second Gold Cup title

There was no disputing Antonio Bishop’s Gold Cup title this time around.

Almost 13 years after winning his first Sandy Lane Gold Cup, the 35-year-old piloted USA-bred 5-year-old gelding Portfolio Company to a sensational win in the Caribbean’s most prestigious horse race at the Garrison Savannah on Saturday.

There were no question marks as they were back in 2011, when Bishop was declared the winner with Zoom after Show Me The Money crossed the finish line first but was disqualified after jockey Jalon Samuels was found guilty of careless riding.

In a thrilling finish, Portfolio Company, owned by American Gay Smith, held off a stiff challenge from the fast-finishing Cash Equity under lights.

“He was training well and I came into the race with a lot of confidence. The only other horse that I had as a factor was my stablemate [Jerry The Nipper] but after doing my homework if it came down to a fight I would be better off than him so I didn’t have any worries.”

And even though most pundits had Jerry The Nipper as the overwhelming favourite to win, Bishop said he always believed he would emerge victorious.

“At the end of the day that was my stable partner so either he win or I win, the race was going one place, but I had my confidence and I just came out on top,” Bishop said.

When asked if he felt he could catch the winningest Gold Cup jockey, Jalon Samuels, who has six titles, Bishop said “anything is possible.”

“Honestly I’ve won every big race in Barbados so far except for one. This is just another number to the table and as long as I am here anything is possible and I’m not going anywhere no time soon,” he maintained.