THE QUICK GALLOPER’S | special race notes | Oct 23, 2021

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The following represents the special notes by THE QUICK GALLOPER for the nine-race card on Saturday, October 23, 2021.  

GENERAL 

After a break of two years, the Gold Cup (seven furlongs) returns to the track. It is a scanty gathering of seven horses, yet, truth be told, there is not much to choose from these days. 

Facing the facts: Horse of the Year Nipster is out until probably next year, Toona Ciliata has been retired, Sir Alton is out probably until next year, and Oneofakind is on the mend, and is not ready to face these as yet. That leaves the likes of She’s A Wonder and Father Patrick. 

Trainer Ian Parsard holds a big hand at the top level as his barn now includes Mahogany (Gold Cup starter), Rojorn Di Pilot (Gold Cup starter), Father Patrick and She’s A Wonder. Parsard has decided that the latter two will not start in this year’s Gold Cup. 

Despite the weak Gold Cup field, it should be a keen tussle for top honours between two talented thoroughbreds, Mahogany and King Arthur.  

THE HORSES

Two first-timers hit the track. They are bay colt I’ve Got Magic (Fast Anna – Lil Miss Richie) trained by Philip Feanny, and Jordon Reign’s a bay gelding by Mosler – Dearie Be Good trained by Ian Parsard. Not much is known about these two foreigners, so we will just have to wait and see how they perform. They race in a three-year-old (non-winners of two) for local horses and a maiden event for foreigners coming down the five-straight course. 

Dams – For those Quickgallop.com readers who are interested in breeding; note that the dam of Mahogany - Mete-Orite - has three other offspring | Pizarro, Heat It Up, Daddy Jones |. Daddy Jones, a three-year-old races on Monday, Oct 25, 2021. 

The dam of King Arthur – Geisha’s Art – has also produced three other offspring | Flagrans, Geisha’s Glory, Khai Express |.

Interestingly, the dam of Morse Code, who is racing in the fifth race – Code Star – has produced a multitude. They are Hidalgo, Orion, Man A Yard, Amicable, El Numero Uno, Merlin, Sergeant Reckless, Code of Honor, and High Diplomacy.  

THE JOCKEYS 

Former top-notch jockey Everton Miller makes another return in the saddle on Explosive Charge trained by Paul Hylton in the first race. 

In a rarely seen happening, co-champion and current leading jockey Anthony Thomas has a mount in every race (nine) on the card. 

Not far off is Oshane Nugent, who about two weeks ago lost his claiming ‘bug’, with rides in eight races. He is missing from action in the ninth race. 

The red-hot Dick Cardenas is aboard horses in six races with Javaniel Patterson and Paul Francis riding four times on the day.  

THE TRAINERS 

As the race for the trainers’ championship heats up with Jason DaCosta leading champion Anthony Nunes by just under $1 million, it is noted that DaCosta has runners in five races (4,5,7,8,9) with Nunes having horses in three races (2,7,9).