KINGSTON, Jamaica - Three-year-old bay colt (Savoy Stomp out of Rackam’s Mistress) reaffirmed his status as one of the leading candidates for the 10-furlong St Leger Classic, scheduled for Saturday, July 6.
Trained by Anthony Nunes with Reyan Lewis holding the reins, Captain Sparrow, after being withdrawn from participation in the 2000 Guineas in early June because of injury concerns, returned on Saturday, June 15, at non-winners of two level.
The distance of the Saturday engagement was over the two turns of nine furlongs and 25 yards.
From the off, Lewis raced way at the back of the pack, then leaving the three-furlong pole, Captain Sparrow made the decisive winning move, circling opponents on the outside to enter the straight in tow with the leaders.
In the lane it was one-way traffic as Captain Sparrow displayed his true self, pulling away to score by 4 ¾ lengths in a reasonable time of 1:59.4 seconds. Stablemate of Captain Sparrow, Supremasi (Raddesh Roman) earned second with Lady Lauren (Phillip Parchment) in the third slot.
“It was such a heart-warming display by Captain Sparrow in the Mr Lover Lover Trophy. Indeed, I am so happy not only with the performance by Captain Sparrow but also with the effort by Supremasi, who completed the stable quinella.
“Remember Captain Sparrow was entered to race in the 2000 Guineas but we had to pull him out because he was not himself. He had stopped eating and, the decision was made to get Captain Sparrow, fit and proper to race again,” Nunes told Quickgallopja.com.
Nunes then described the run by Captain Sparrow as what was needed for the St Leger
“This two-turn preparation for Captain Sparrow was ideal. He is one that the longer they go, the better it is for him. Reyan knows him well, and his race management, timing especially, was spot on.
“Captain Sparrow will race next in 10-furlong St Leger, where he has an outstanding chance. Looking back, not running in the 2000 Guineas, might have been a purposeful intervention.
“Yes, Captain Sparrow’s display was noteworthy, and so too Supremasi. He did not win, but he did enough to show that he was going in the right direction for the St Leger. Both will thrive at the longer distances,” Nunes said in this post-race interview.”
