KINGSTON, Jamaica – The United Racehorse Trainers' Association Trophy Restricted Stakes feature at Caymanas Park on Saturday, November 20, provided the platform from which Big Jule reinvigorated his career as a racer with a decisive performance.
The three-year-old promising bay son of Tapizar, trained by Ian Parsard and ridden to victory by Omar Walker won the event (three and four-year-olds | non-winners of four races | over 1820 metres by a crippling 10 1/2 lengths.
Earlier in his preparation, especially during the Classic season, Big Jule failed to realize his full potential as he experienced several setbacks.
This trophy win last Saturday by Big Jule indicated that he is now approaching the quality of form backed by the performance which were expected from him months ago.
Cruising to his 10 lengths plus win, Big Jule, installed as the 7/5 betting option, completed the distance in a time of 1:55.1 with fractions of 26.3, 52.0, 1:16.4, 1:41.2 seconds.
Bern Notice (Tevin Foster) at odds of 12/1 finished second followed by the 4/5 favourite, Santorini (Linton Steadman).
"We thought that we were really unlucky with him (Big Jule) earlier in the season. Then we backed him off everything coming out of the final Classic so that he could find his true self.
“That was sheer hope, and today (Saturday, Nov 20) that run was a bit of a statement that he is still one of the top three-year-olds around but, in spite of this run, he has a long way to go and battle for his place among the notables and try and make a name as a four-year-old and beyond providing this run is a true indicator of what is in store with the key being he has past his patchy period to remain healthy and sound.
“Today's performance was a promising sign and let us keep our fingers crossed that it was no flash in the pan,” Parsard said.
