THE QUICK GALLOPER ASSESSES PAST WINNERS OF THE JAMAICA 2-YEAR-OLD STAKES

How they progressed after famous victory

KINGSTON, Jamaica – It has become one of the abiding principles in local horse racing that the one-mile Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes is the big race for the juveniles.

On Monday, December 27, 2021, the Anthony Nunes trained filly Golden Wattle added her name to the list of winners with an unforgettable performance after being rejected in the betting starting at odds of 11-1. 

Spurred on by a colleague, a racing aficionado, THE QUICK GALLOPER decided to analyse the fortunes of the last eleven winners of the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes. 

Firstly, the list of the last eleven winners is published below.  

2010 Coney Island Invader – One of the biggest outsiders to win this race, and thereafter was never able to reproduce that effort.   

2011 All Correct – Went on to win the Governor’s Cup in the Stewards’ Room but did not live up to early expectations in the Classic races. All Correct did, however, prove to be a ranking claiming horse.  

2012 Hover Craft – This old warrior has distinguished himself by his durability. Hover Craft although not winning any of the three-year-old Classic races has done it all. He has paid for himself every year since 2012 and has found lodging in the top 20 list of the biggest earners in local horse racing history. Durable, tough, and resilient, Hover Craft will be 12-years-old on January 1, 2022.  

2013 Princess Popstar – Precocious filly who gained notoriety from not only winning the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes but also by becoming as the first juvenile in local racing history to be voted as the Horse of the Year. Plus, she was and still is, only one of two horses in the last 11 years to win what is now known as the two-year-old Triple Crown series of races, which include the Cash Pot, the Pick 3, and the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes. After her success in the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes, Princess Popstar was taken to Trinidad and Tobago where she finished second in that country’s Derby. She was plagued by injuries and was never able to develop her true potential.  

2014 Alacrann – This chestnut colt was injured in the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes and thereafter his progress as a three-year-old was impeded.  

2015 Future King – Was barely able to reach the 2000 Guineas but used his class to win this Classic race. Future King was beset by injuries during his career but was first by the post in the Jamaica Derby. He was subsequently disqualified. Thereafter, the racing career of Future King subsided.  

2016 Sotomayor – Holds the distinction of defeating She’s A Maneater in the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes. After that resonating win, Sotomayor did not develop to win a Classic although finishing second in the Derby behind Triple Crown winner, She’s A Maneater. After his three-year-old sojourn, Sotomayor did not progress.  

2017 Marquesas – Did go on to win the Classic Jamaica St Leger but has always battled with injuries. Still appears in a competitive race every now and again.  

2018 Run Thatcher Run – From the famed Ahwhofah bloodline, whose victory in the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes assisted to propel his trainer the late Wayne DaCosta to another championship title. Run Thatcher Run although talented was straddled by injuries and was never able to come to the fore as a three-year-old.   

2019 Wow Wow – Won 11 races in a row after losing first time out. Among those 11 races was the 2000 Guineas. After his victory in the 2000 Guineas, Wow Wow lights dimmed mainly due to an injury and he was retired close to the end of his three-year-old season. Wow Wow joined Princess Popstar as winners of the three Triple Crown races for juveniles. Wow Wow is now standing at stud.  

2020 – Further and Beyond – Placed in the three Classic races open to colts and geldings. After his Classic campaign, Further and Beyond developed rapidly and later wins in the Jamaica Cup and the Ian Levy Cup bear testimony to his progress. He is on the verge of being voted as the 2021 Horse of the Year. At present, Further and Beyond is the highest rated horse in the land.