So Suave takes out Rum Cup

Six-year-old Irish-bred So Suave added a third feature race to his racing career since coming over to Barbados when he made all the turns in The Old Brigand Rum Cup at the Garrison on Saturday Night.

So Suave who won his last three starts at Woodbine, Canada, before scoring a winning debut in Barbados in the Colmore Stakes in January last year, broke from the starting stalls of the feature 1800-metre event smartly before being tracked by Tuff Raggs from the William Clarke barn with Renaissance Frolic and Zaeed bringing up the rare in the four-horse field.

So Suave kicked clear but was hunted down by Renaissance Frolic who was looking to give his owner yet another feature race after winning The J B Simpson Classic, The Barbados Lottery Trophy last year, and The Gordon Lewis Trophy this year but lost out by just a nose to So Suave.

There was chatter around the Garrison on Saturday night by the fans of Renaissance Frolic who thought that jockey Antionio Bishop who won the Gold Cup this year had his mount position too far from the leader.

Zaeed came off the pace to finish third while Tuff Raggs faded to fourth in the four-horse field.

Winning jockey Eric Daniel was elated while winning owner Nalicia Cozier plus trainer Jean Marc Cozier was all smiles after getting revenge on Renaissance Frolic, which had defeated them in the Gordon Lewis Handicap on April 13.

The next race day will be June 28.

(Kent Layne)