KINGSTON, Jamaica - The Viceroy Trophy, a distinguished Graded Stakes Open Allowance race for three-year-old and upward horses, boasts a mere quartet of starters yet promises a thrilling showdown.
Among the contenders are three of the finest equines currently gracing the tracks, prepared to battle it out over a mile.
Below is an evaluation of each competitor and their prospects in this prestigious contest.
1 - ROUGH ENTRY, a seasoned seven-year-old bay horse from the United States by Poseidon’s Warrior out of Dixie Ocean, is trained by Rohan Crichton. Reyluis Gutierrez, a jockey of note, will be guiding him through the race. ROUGH ENTRY comes off a respectable third-place finish in the Chairman’s Trophy on February 24, trailing behind Is That A Fact and Atomica. He faces Is That A Fact under more favourable weight conditions this time, while standing an equal chance against Atomica. To triumph in The Viceroy Trophy, ROUGH ENTRY must proactively contest Atomica’s pace-setting and strive to maintain his lead in the final stretch.
2 - IS THAT A FACT, a four-year-old bay colt, sired by Palice Malice out of Valid Code, is under the guidance of Jason DaCosta with Josue Osorio taking the reins. Previously leveraging a weight benefit to outpace both ROUGH ENTRY and Atomica, IS THAT A FACT no longer enjoys this advantage. Nevertheless, his fitness and inherent prowess keep him as a strong contender. In this race, IS THAT A FACT needs to counter Atomica's speedy lead, keeping close enough to unleash his characteristic late sprint to the finish line.
3 - ATOMICA, a five-year-old chestnut mare by Nuclear Wayne from Honkeytonkville, enters the fray trained by Gary Subratie with Omar Walker slated as the jockey. Her last race on February 24 saw her facing difficulties over 7 ½ furlongs against ROUGH ENTRY and IS THAT A FACT. Notably, ATOMICA will be partnered with Omar Walker, as her usual jockey Dane Dawkins is now competing in Canada. Renowned for her swift pace, ATOMICA is anticipated to take command early in the race. If she can maintain a steady lead without interference, her tenacity and ability to rally as displayed on February 24 when under duress could very well secure her victory.
4 - GREEN GOLD RUSH, a seven-year-old bay gelding by Adore The Gold out of Princess Lorna, has achieved remarkable success to be counted among this elite group. Trained by Dalton Sirjue with Sadiki Blake in the saddle, GREEN GOLD RUSH is considered a dark horse in this race, holding only a slim chance at seizing the win.
The stage is set for an exhilarating race, with each horse and their team bringing their best to the The Viceroy Trophy. The question on everyone's mind: which thoroughbred will emerge victorious in this test of speed and endurance?
The slim edge is given to Atomica by the Quick Galloper.
One Response
Omar Walker was the first jockey to rode Atomica in a race