Sparkle Diamond primed for Veterinary Day Trophy
After five failed attempts to visit the winners’ enclosure in the class above, Sparkle Diamond now has the glorious opportunity to prove his worth as he steps down the ladder to contest the $1.05-million World Veterinary Day Trophy — a three-year-old and upward Overnight Allowance event going one mile (1,600m) at Caymanas Park today.
The Anthony Nunes-conditioned six-year-old American-bred chestnut horse Sparkle Diamond has been racing in the class above since December of last year and has been consistent without ruffling any feathers. However, the American-bred horse returns to Overnight where he was a winner (November 20) beating I’m Fred, who he meets again at about the same handicaps.
Sparkle Diamond, therefore, cannot be ruled out of contention. From a level break, the Include – Mytnz Connection offspring could make every post a winning one.
It won’t be smooth sailing for Sparkle Diamond here as fellow foreigner I Am Fred is fit and ready to roll. Coming off a four-month break, I’m Fred ran an encouraging race to finish a length and a half in third place behind Runaway Algo and Mahogany in the Easter Sprint Cup over five-and-a-half furlongs (1,100m) on April 18.
With the distance increased, the Jason DaCosta-conditioned I Am Fred is better off, and with him continuing to show up at exercise can certainly go one better.
The race is the 10th event on the card with a post time of 4:55 pm. First race is at 11:50 am.
Of the other runners in the nine-horse field, Sentient, Raw Liquid, and Curlin’s Affair are all capable enough to put good runs here.
Slowly but surely Sentient is coming into his own. After three starts this season coming off a long break, Sentient has not found his best stride yet, seemingly needing more time, but based on his back class he can handle these. It appears to be a matter of time for Sentient, who cannot be ruled out while still running in this grade. It is noted that champion jockey Anthony Thomas replaces regular Dane Dawkins in the saddle.
Raw Liquid did really well on April 16 when he finished 4 ¼ lengths third behind winner Hover Craft and Supreme Soul going the two turns of nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m). In that race, at the top of the straight, the Maurice Crooks trainee was in front making the one mile of this trophy race more to his liking, plus Raw Liquid is going seven pounds lighter. He cannot be ruled out.
Curlin’s Affair ran well when finishing fourth in the recent Easter Sprint. But with I Am Fred again present, Curlin’s Affair will have to show some improvement to get to the winners’ enclosure in front, but he is talented enough to fight this out.
Meanwhile, two veterinarians, Dr Grace McDonnough Lyon and Dr John Masterton, will be honoured on the 11-race card, which is designated as the World Veterinary Day.
Dr McDonnough Lyon, who was the first female veterinarian to work at Caymanas Park, where she provided services in the testing barn and paddock operations on race days, and Dr Masterton, who is an accomplished horseman in both show jumping and polo, are being recognised for their decades of services to the racing industry.
Ones to watch:
Race 1) Joyful/Conundrum/Tocatbetheglory
Race 2) Den Street/Lalala Bamba/Azaria
Race 3) Maggie’s Boy/Legal Bomb/Great Wayne
Race 4) Bin Laden/Dodge This Link/Adoring Texas
Race 5) Heart Of A Lion/Jahsendblessings/Tina’s Account
Race 6) Poker Star/Party Princess/Flying Bullet
Race 7) True Bravado/Nuttin But Trouble/Letters in Gold
Race 8) Santorini/Bern Notice/Unruly Boss
Race 9) Danny Spud/Fresh Cash/Cold Pursuit
Race 10) Sparkle Diamond/I Am Fred/Sentient
Race 11) Subbie/Hot Ice/Thunderstrike