THE early part of the racing year is particularly interesting, especially with regards to the development of our three-year-olds, as trainers plot the course to possible Classic success. Naturally, performances as two-year-olds will influence the situation, but nothing is more exciting than seeing the youngsters grow and develop, sometimes at a very rapid rate.

Such was the case on Saturday last as Willie Goldsmith and Rum Punch presented their credentials to the racing public with aplomb and some amount of audacity.

Racing in a three-year-old non-winners of two events over seven furlongs (1,400 metres), Willie Goldsmith raced against Piscean Rocket who finished fourth in the crack Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes on Boxing Day last.

Disputing the lead from the off, Willie Goldsmith with Dick Cardenas in the saddle simply waltzed away for a rather impressive six-length win in a time of 1:27.0 seconds. It was a defining performance by the Traditional-Gracious Gift chestnut colt and sets him now as one of the main contenders for three-year-old honours. Trainer Patrick Chang must be a very pleased man and he is sure to guide this talented colt to future successes.

It should be noted that later on Saturday’s nine-race card, the performance of Willie Goldsmith was brought into proper perspective as in a race involving non-winners of four over seven furlongs, the time recorded for the winner Raise A Ruckus was 1:27.3 seconds, in effect meaning if Willie Goldsmith had participated in that race he would theoretically be three lengths in front.

Next it was time to sip Rum Punch. Ridden by Dane Nelson and trained by Wayne DaCosta in a maiden three-year-old event over one mile (1600 metres), Rum Punch went straight to the lead and just kept on going and going for a 13-length victory. The Deputy’s Report-Exchange Only bay colt was racing with the use of Lasix for the first time and this application seems to have made a major difference in his performance on Saturday. Surely now Rum Punch is one to watch.

Despite the obvious gush of excitement created by the performances of the three-year-olds, the real thrill of the day came in the eighth race — an Open Allowance event over seven furlongs. The big names were El Poderoso striving for is fifth-consecutive win, Classy Prospect and Sweet Trial, an ever-improving sort. The favourite at odds on was, of course, El Poderoso with Winston Griffiths in the saddle.

The race from the start was punishing with El Poderoso, Classy Prospect and Double the Honey fighting each other for the lead. None was able to establish any sort of real advantage and all three died in the end leaving the longest shot on the board Go Go Yvonne with Shamaree Muir saving ground on the rails to come storming through for the win. Sweet Trial finished well to earn second. It was the first winner in 2013 for trainer Spencer Chung.

The status of the diminutive Prince Holder, one of the new apprentices, continues to grow raceday by raceday. Last Saturday, Holder piloted home two winners in Gold Rush for DaCosta and Nux Vex for trainer Leroy Biggs. Holder has caught the imagination of race fans and has quickly built his stocks with some good riding. Way to go young man.

The Mercury Sprint over five furlongs straight, one of the preparation races for the Classics, was taken off the Saturday programme in what has been described as a choice between two six-horse field races for inclusion on the final programme. Fine, the decision is respected, but the hope is it will be rescheduled as quickly as possible.