KINGSTON, Jamaica - Kevin Williams, groom of Relampago, said that while he was confident that his charge would win the 2014 Jamaica St Leger Classic over 10 furlongs (2,000m), it took hard work and dedication for success.
Trained by Anthony Nunes and ridden by Shane Ellis, Relampago won the St Leger by 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Raeven Renae (Dick Cardenas) and Talented Tony K (Omar Walker).
“Winning the St Leger was a really great feeling because I was the first groom to win a St Leger for owner Mr Elias Haloute and trainer Anthony Nunes. It was really special to me, but it took hard work and dedication to bring (prepare) a horse to win a Classic race.
“A Classic win doesn’t come like how you see it; you have to prepare your horse well; you have to make sure that your horse is in good health, condition, and shape and then he (horse) will give you his best,” Williams said.
Williams continued: “Going into the St Leger, I was very confident in Relampago. Why I was so confident in his chances was because there weren’t many horses in the race. I had expected that he (Relampago) was going to have a better position during the race so that when he was ready to move he could do so without any difficulties.”
Williams shared the riding tactics applied by Ellis to get the job done aboard Relampago.
“Shane Ellis told that me that the race was going to be a different race from the Derby because the St Leger was shorter, so he is going to ride him differently. In the St Leger, when the gates opened, Ellis told me that something happened to his goggles and he had to ride the entire race without any goggles.
“Ellis said he turned for home and he had to beg Omar Walker to come off the inside rails and give him the run, which Walker did and from there on, Relampago picked up the lead and won. The way how I was so glad I even shed tears eyes because it was a very nice, nice feeling. Winning Classic races is very nice,” Williams said.
After eight years without a Classic winner, Williams said that he hopes to get back on the Classic trail.
“I did get another chance with Calculus, but unfortunately, he moved. I schooled Calculus from day one, I knew he had Classic potential in him but things never worked out our way. I want to have that feeling again.
“I have two nice youngsters. I have a nice colt by Natural Selection – Khadiliah which he is a half-brother to Billy Whizz and I also have a half-brother to Donate and Devonte, and so I am looking out to see what can happen for me in the Classics next year,” he said.
