Saturday, April 12, 2014 will always be a day to remember for trainer Lorne Kirlew. It was the day when Talented Tony K won the 2,000 Guineas, giving Kirlew his first Classic winner.

Ridden by Omar Walker, Talented Tony K dominated from in front, winning by seven lengths in a time of 1:41.0 seconds. It was also the first Classic victory for Walker.

“It was very overwhelming…the feeling was and is still hard to explain, but what I can tell you is that it was a great feeling winning my first Classic race. It was a very special moment for me and one I will always remember.

“The plan going into the race was to make one move. I told the jockey to put him (Talented Tony K) in front and make them catch him, and they didn’t catch him as he went all the way to win the 2,000 Guineas,” Kirlew remembered with pride.

Although finishing 19 lengths in ninth place in the Prince Consort Stakes (Guineas Trial) over seven furlongs (1,400m) three weeks before, Kirlew said that with the application of first-time Lasix, he was confident that his charge would come good in the 2,000.

“To be very honest, I was very confident about his chances in the race. I was confident in the Prince Consort Stakes, but he ended up bleeding finished down the track. We got Lasix for him in the 2,000 Guineas and that did the trick.

“If he did not bleed in the trial race he would have won. From we got the Lasix I knew that he would have gone all the way and that he did,” Kirlew explained.

Kirlew further stated that he was also pleased with Talented Tony K’s performances in the other Classic races.

“He performed well in the other Classic races. I thought he was unlucky to lose the Derby. We, the owner and I, had a disagreement and we changed the rider and went for Edgar Prado to partner Talented Tony K.

“He [Edgar Prado] is a first-class jockey, but it was the first time he was riding in Jamaica and he really didn’t know the racetrack. I think that if it was Shane Ellis I would have won the Derby,” Kirlew said.