KINGSTON, Jamaica - Wow Wow, under a patient ride from Robert Halledeen, swept all before him to win the 46th running of the $2.8-m Jamaica 2000 Guineas at Caymanas Park on Sunday, July 26, 2020.
This brings his tally to 11 consecutive victories from 12 career starts.
The Casual Trick – Sarah Barracuda by Prized three-year-old bay colt, who went off as the firm 1-2 favourite, powered home by three lengths ahead of tear-away leader and 9-5 second favourite Mahogany (Dane Dawkins), with the latter’s stablemate Double Crown under Omar Walker claiming third.
It was expected to be Wow Wow’s sternest test to date and at the halfway stage his connections might have had a moment of concern as Mahogany blazed what can be considered a crazy speed trail leading by five lengths after an opening quarter-mile split of 23.1, followed by 45 seconds for half-mile.
Mahogany turned for home at the six-furlong pole in 1.09.4 minutes, but the fast-moving Wow Wow had hit top gear by then and the champion juvenile from last season wasted no time in blowing by to win handily in the end in a fast 1.37.3 to register his 11th-consecutive victory from 12 career starts.
He is now three victories shy equalling Saint Cecelia’s record of 14-consecutive wins at Caymanas Park.
Mahogany stayed on well, considering that he exerted so much in trying to slip the favourite, while Walker astride Double Crown closed readily which is an indication that he should relish the longer distances of the remaining Classics, the Jamaica Derby and St Leger.
The winner is owned by last season’s champion Michael Bernard of Michros fame, who doubles as the breeder, and was conditioned by Gary Subratie.
It was the second 2000 Guineas winner for Subratie, who was successful with Big Man Boyu under Trinidadian jockey Brian Harding in 2011.
It was the first for Bernard.
“The performance from Wow Wow was excellent. He ran the way I wanted him to and he came home well today [yesterday]. I know what this horse can do and leaving the half-mile, there is where he does his running from,” Subratie said.
The second-generation trainer admitted that Wow Wow is the best horse he has trained, and he went on to add that it could get even easier for this outstanding animal in the remaining Classics, at longer distances, based on the manner in which he finished the event yesterday.
For Halledeen, it was his third success in the event as he guided Ali Baba in 2015 and Future King in 2016.
“All Classic wins are very special. Wow Wow is a very special horse as well and he performed excellently. I was always confident in him as he is a horse of great ability,” Halledeen said.
