KINGSTON, Jamaica – Fittingly the feature race on Saturday, June 10, 2023, the Valbert Marlowe Memorial Cup, is being contested over nine furlongs.
Marlowe, the legendary trainer of three-time Gold Cup winner Kilowatt, for years, stabled his horses close to the nine-furlong starting point. The ring where horses often walk around is also close to the nine-furlong marker and is affectionately called the 'Marlowe Ring'.
The Valbert Marlowe Memorial Cup is for four-year-old and upwards horses at the non-winners of four level, and also for imported horses, four-year-old and upwards - non-winners of three.
The Quick Galloper’s assessment of the eight horses entered in the 2023 edition can be viewed below.
1 - GT BOY is slowly finding his hoofs at this level. Based on his efforts to date, G T Boy will have to wait.
2 – RAINSVILLE has been performing well since reaching non-winners of four. Rainsville gets a drop in the weights moving from 117 lb to 108 lb, plus the distance is not going to be a hindrance. Rainsville cannot be left out of the exotic wagers.
3 – SUNSET SILHOUTTE has been a major disappointment thus far in her racing career, and with this being her first time in non-four, cannot be given the winning nod.
4 – FLY MESSENGER FLY is one of the most raced horses in 2023, with ten starts under her girth. This hard-knocking filly will probably earn again, as is always the case.
5 – OUR ANGEL is last year’s Oak winner, who has raced four times in non-four. The increase in distance in her favour, plus Our Angel has been moving sweetly in the mornings. This trophy race is tailored made for Our Angel.
6 – SONNY T AND CHIPPY has done really well since returning to competitive racing on April 23, after a long absence. Sonny T And Chippy has finished second and won last time out in his two starts in 2023. The trip of nine furlongs suits him well, but he will have to wait against these seasoned rivals. Note, Sonny T And Chippy races with the blinkers off and the visor on.
7 – NEFERTARI is known to be problematic at the gate. Once she overcomes this issue her chances of winning are greatly improved. Neferati has already proven that she is comfortable in this grade, and with the distance giving her time to move down slowly, under less pressure, she will be there when the winning post arrives.
8 – LION OF EKATI is the only foreigner of the eight gathered in the Valbert Marlowe. He can be safely left out of calculations.
