Derby will be better than last year – Carlton WatsonNuclear Affair

Carlton Watson, Managing Director of Derby sponsor, Cal’s Manufacturing Limited, has promised that his company’s promotion of the Derby will be bigger and better than last year.

“Last year we received kudos for our sponsorship of the Derby. This year we are going to do it even better to create the excitement and the buzz for everyone, whether they are at the track or not,” Watson vowed.

Watson indicated that the decision to sponsor a $180,000 claiming race with a purse of $1 million is generating great interest.

“People at the racetrack are talking about it, some are already claiming horses to run in this race. I am personally very happy for this, for while the Derby is the premier race, it is important to give prominence to the people who keep racing going,” he said.

The Gary Subratie-trained Nuclear Affair , winner of the 1,000 Guineas and runner-up in the Oaks, has started in earnest her quest to win the Cal’s Jamaica Derby on June 25.

Nuclear Affair did not run in the 10-furlong Lotto Classic for the Governor’s Cup on Saturday last, but cantered nine furlongs on Sunday, galloping the last four furlongs in 48.2 seconds.

2,000 Guineas winner, Future King, who also did not participate in the Lotto Classic after cantering on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, galloped on Tuesday morning – cantering nine furlongs before turning it on for the last four furlongs. Future King was clocked in a time of 48.4 seconds.

Oaks winner A Thousand Stars also cantered nine furlongs, galloping the last four in 49.0 seconds.

Despite Mr Doitbetta ‘s unplaced effort in the 76th running of the Lotto Classic for the Governor’s Cup last Saturday, breeder, owner and trainer Lorenzo Robinson is still pleased with his horse’s performance in the 2,000-metre event.

Coming off two runaway victories going two turns, Mr Doitbetta found the going tough and finished in fifth position behind Bigdaddykool.

“I think that Mr Doitbetta ran a very good race. He got some interference leaving the starting gates and I don’t think that the jockey (Hakeem Pottinger) made the right decision, but that is racing, and the good part of it is that we will live to fight another day,” Robinson said.

Robinson then informed that his charge came out of the race in good nick.

“Mr Doitbetta came out of the race well. He only has a little bruise but that is something that we can work on, nothing serious or anything like that. So overall he is good.”

Robinson indicated that the main focus now is to get his charge ready for the June 25 date for the Cal’s Jamaica Derby going over 2,400 metres.

“Now we are going to focus on getting him ready for the Derby. We are going to line up his preparation schedule. He is a distance horse and we are convinced that he can get the journey, so we have no issues there,” he declared.