KINGSTON, Jamaica - The fifth staging of the Diamond Mile sponsored by Supreme Ventures Limited and the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission is just four days away.
Official nominations and the draw for post-positions for the two-day Diamond Mile Weekend Carnival of racing takes place today for the Friday (November 8) meeting and tomorrow, Wednesday, for the Saturday (November 9) race day when the Diamond Mile race itself is to be contested.
The 16 top-rated horses in the land with a starting stall in the Diamond Mile have now completed their preparations for the race and the jockeys are slowly but surely getting in place.
As a follow-up to previous articles, The Supreme Racing Guide can now report that Princess Ava runner-up in the 10-furlong Jamaica Oaks and trained by Anthony Nunes, although qualifying for the Diamond Mile is going to run elsewhere and is to be replaced by her stablemate and next in line on the earnings’ list, Bruce Wayne.
While the horses to occupy the 16 available starting stalls in the Diamond Mile are known, there is still uncertainty regarding the jockeys and which horses they will ride in the big race.
Word from the racetrack is that two former champion jockeys, Trevor “Slicer” Simpson and Dane Nelson, who have both been plying their trade in North America in recent times, have both secured rides in the Diamond Mile. Simpson is already working horses in the mornings while Nelson is expected to arrive later this week.
It is understood that Simpson is going to mount up on Caribbean Sprint champion Another Bullet trained by Patrick Lynch while Nelson is set to take the saddle on Nunes’ charge, Toona Cilita.
The Diamond Mile pre-race favourites Stranger Danger and She’s A Maneater both coming from the barn of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta already have their designated riders. Omar Walker rides former Triple Crown champion She’s A Maneater with journeyman jockey Phillip Parchment gets the ride on the still unbeaten, Stranger Danger.
Top-notch jockey, Shane Ellis is expected to continue his association with the Nunes-trained and current Triple Crown champion, Supreme Soul. This is expected to be Supreme Soul’s last race before venturing to Florida to participate in the Caribbean Classic.
It is still unknown which jockeys will ride the other three Nunes horses in the race, Bruce Wayne, Houdini’s Magic and Fayrouz.
The Ian Parsard-conditioned Superluminal who enters the Diamond Mile in the pink of form has Robert Halledeen tentatively down to ride. Halledeen was originally booked to partner the top-rated two-turn horse in training, Bigdaddykool but unfortunately, Bigdaddykool passed away last week after an exercise gallop.
