Toona Ciliata, trained by Anthony Nunes and fresh from victory in the Eileen Cliggott Trophy a month ago, returned to win the three-year-old and upwards Graded Stakes/Open Allowance Chairman’s Trophy feature at Caymanas Park on Saturday, March 20.
Bred by Wilbert Bagwandeen and part-owned by Bagwandeen, Stephan Narinesingh and Ajax Bjorn, Toona Ciliata won the 7 ½-furlong event by half a length in a time of 1:32.2 with dictating fractions of 23.4 x 46.1 x 1:11.0.
THE RACE
The Chairman’s Trophy was pronounced as the clash between reigning Horse of the Year Nipster and his now stablemate Toona Ciliata, with the latter receiving weight from the former.
Then there was the three-pronged attack from the stables of trainer Gary Subratie in the form of Crimson, Sentient and Duke. The eight-horse field was filled out by Superluminal, Roy Rogers and Father Patrick.
It was Superluminal (Ricardo Duhaney) who prompted the early pace with Roy Rogers (Nicholas Hibbert) racing at this level for the first time, as Dane Nelson on Toona Ciliata watched and waited in the catbird seat. Nipster (Robert Halledeen) was well behind the front-runners.
Then, as if the pace was too slow for his liking, Nelson pushed Toona Ciliata to take over on the headlines with about 3 ½ furlongs remaining in the contest.
Toona Ciliata entered the lane for the last two furlongs with the advantage as the Subratie trio led by Sentient (Anthony Thomas) provided the challenges. Nipster was nowhere around at this stage.
The final half-furlong turned out to be a battle between Toona Ciliata and Sentient, with the former digging deep into his class reserves and determination to last by just a half-length. Sentient, who ran gamely, got second with Crimson third. Nipster ended in sixth place, beating only Superluminal and Father Patrick.
THE TRAINER’S COMMENTS
“We reasoned that Roy Rogers and Father Patrick should be on the lead so we wanted to get him [Toona Ciliata] away from those two, hold and get him in a nice spot, and if they went too fast too early we will be right there sitting third. That did not happen as Father Patrick seemed to have missed the break or something and he ended up behind us. So, Toona Ciliata was in front and Dane [Nelson] just left him alone and then Toona Ciliata simply demonstrated his class and grit.
“I expected Nipster to have top weight based on his performances last year but with the difference in weight all the way down to 48.5 kilogrammes it was a bit unfair for him as he is coming off a three-month layoff. I thought that he ran a decent race but got tired in the final furlong but once he is healthy and sound, he will be back.”
THE POSITIVES
The 2021 Chairman’s Trophy further underlined the wealth of talent and dexterity possessed by Toona Ciliata.
Whichever scenario he encounters in a race, this five-year-old chestnut gelding offspring of Soul Warrior – Wizard of Gold is always able to adapt — and therein lies his competitiveness and his ability to deliver. Toona Ciliata is truly a horse for the ages and one to savour.
THE NEGATIVES
If there is a negative after the running of this race it is the performance of Nipster. The Horse of the Year was simply not himself on the day. He was allowing weight to all, racing for the first time in three months after a hard and tough three-year-old Classic season, plus Nipster is getting acquainted with his new surroundings. This was a warm-up run for the Horse of the Year who will return fitter and better as his four-year-old journey unfolds.
