KINGSTON, Jamaica - Ian Parsard, voted last year as the most improved trainer, says his top two three-year-old geldings Mahogany and Double Crown will be ready for competitive racing, for the delayed 2020 Classics campaign when horse racing restarts at Caymanas Park.
Last night (June 10), minister with portfolio responsibility for horse racing Dr Nigel Clarke announced in Parliament that racing will return on Saturday, June 20.
After racing was halted on March 21, horses have been exercising in the mornings, as participants adhere to social distancing and other required public health protocols to mitigate against the spread of COVID-19.
The promoter of racing in preparation for the restart recently issued a provisional 10-race day projection. The season’s first two Classic races – 1000 and 2000 Guineas – are scheduled to take place on the ninth and 10 tenth days, respectively.
“I would say that the break in racing has affected their [Mahogany and Double Crown] development, probably more so for Double Crown than Mahogany because I think Double Crown needs some more racing to kind of bring him on [for him to improve]. But then maybe the flip side of that is that because everything has been pushed back, maybe it will allow him [Double Crown] the time to develop,” Parsard told Quickgallop.com.
Mahogany (Sensational Slam - Mete-Orite) last raced on February 16 and was a 6 ½-length winner in a Restricted Stakes event over 7 ½ furlongs (1,500m). He clocked 1:31.2 under Dane Dawkins.
Last raced on March 17, Double Crown (Bellamy Road - Salty Talk) slammed rivals by 9 ½ lengths in a Restricted Allowance event over 1,500m. Ridden by Simon Husbands, Double Crown stopped the ticking of the clock in 1:33.2.
“They [Mahogany and Double Crown] have been fine. Both of them have been active for the two months since the closure of the racetrack as we haven’t stopped [working] with them. They haven’t done a lot in terms of anything super-fast but they both have been active, and I would say that they are fairly fit. They will be as ready as they need to be, I believe, because we will get them ready,” asserted Parsard.
Mahogany is the winner of three races from five starts after losing the first two, while Double Crown has registered two wins from as many outings.
