‘Bruce’ returns to winning form at Santa Rosa Park
ARIMA, Trinidad (CMC) — Top horse Bruceontheloose exacted his revenge on conqueror Cactus Amour on Saturday at Santa Rosa Park.
The Jamaica-bred, under Brian Harding, won the US$16,000 feature Eric ‘Colt’ Durant Memorial on the main track, after the Arima Race Club took all races off the turf course because of waterlogged conditions.
Bruceontheloose prevailed over Cactus Armour, under Ricky Jadoo, by one length in Durant Memorial for three-year-olds and over.
The grey colt covered 1,750 metres in one minute, 49.71 seconds.
“Bruce did the job well,” said the animal’s trainer John O’Brien. “When he quickened away at the corner, he put the race to bed.
“But Jadoo would not give in, and ‘Bruce’ looked as though he was a bit tired at the end. This time unlike the last race we were on the outside, and that helped quite a lot.”
O’Brien is pointing Bruceontheloose the President’s Cup in August for his next race.
Last time out, Cactus Amour was responsible for handing the fellow Jamaica-bred his only loss on Trinidad & Tobago soil at the end of last February.
But punters still made Bruceontheloose the favourite, and he did not disappoint.
When the nine-horse field was sent on their way, Bruceontheloose was first to show, but Blackstone Street set off to make all the running.
He was followed by Cactus Amour on the inside, Bruceontheloose in third on the outside, with Sikhara and Proud Connection close up.
At the 500-metre mark, jockey Brian Harding gave Bruceontheloose the cue, and the sprinted four lengths clear of his main rival Cactus Amour, under Ricky Jadoo.
Jadoo attacked with Cactus Armour deep in the stretch, but Bruceontheloose stayed the course.
