Aidan O’Brien has cast serious doubt on leading Classic contender Opera Singer’s participation in the Qipco 1000 Guineas.
The daughter of Justify announced herself as a major player for the first fillies’ Classic of the campaign when following up a wide-margin victory in a Curragh Group Three with a devastating display at ParisLongchamp in the Prix Marcel Boussac, storming to a five-length success.
However, speaking at the Curragh on Monday, the master of Ballydoyle explained she may debut for the season on home soil rather than Newmarket having met with a setback.
“Opera Singer is a little bit behind them (the colts) and might not make the English Guineas,” he told Racing TV.
“She had a little setback and had to have two weeks easy. When you have two weeks easy, it is just difficult enough to get to the English Guineas.
“It’s possible but more unlikely than likely and she could end up starting here in the Curragh rather than starting in England. We won’t force her, she’s a beautiful big filly and everyone’s very happy with her.
“She had a couple of easy weeks and when that happens you have to be wary of it.”
In contrast, it appears all systems go for the odds-on Qipco 2000 Guineas favourite City Of Troy who has been pleasing his handler in the early days of his three-year-old season.
O’Brien continued: “Everything has gone very well with him. He’s matured lovely, he’s moving well, he’s going through all his work very well – he’s floating through the work, that he’s doing.
“Even though our ground is bad, he’s finding it very easy, so he’s very exciting. It’s day by day at the moment but we couldn’t be happier with him at the moment.”
Although City Of Troy often left people astonished with the manner of his victories during his flawless two-year-old campaign, it was dual-Derby hero Auguste Rodin who was undoubtedly Ballydoyle’s top performer in 2023.
He signed off his Classic season with a scintillating success at the Breeders’ Cup in Santa Anita and is close to his eagerly-awaited return, where the son of Deep Impact will seek further international riches in the Dubai Sheema Classic.
“He’ll work this week and then he’ll go off to Dubai,” said O’Brien.
“He’s in a lovely place. He was in Dundalk a few weeks ago and everything went lovely, so we couldn’t be happier with him and we’re looking forward to it.
“It’s a big week for him before he travels so hopefully everything goes well.”
O’Brien has also left the door open for Seamie Heffernan after the Ballydoyle stalwart left his full-time role with the powerhouse operation.
The 51-year-old has been part of the Ballydoyle furniture for nearly 30 years and a vital member of O’Brien’s team, winning the Derby aboard Anthony Van Dyk in 2019 and partnering the winner of the Irish equivalent on four occasions for his long-time boss.
But Heffernan has revealed he has chosen to ride freelance this season, with O’Brien fully understanding of the decision.
He said: “I was reading in the papers that Seamus has been riding for us for 25 to 30 years and at the start of every year I never know when Seamus is coming back.
“Obviously himself and Rochelle had a chat and he was always with us six mornings a week and they obviously felt he would like to give the outside world a bit of a chance.
“There are a lot of other people he has ridden for and lots of other people he will now be able to ride for and we totally appreciate it and understand that and respect it in every way. I think Seamus is 51 or 52 now and if he is going to do it now is the time to do it and there will be plenty of times he can fall in for us – he’s got plenty of experience and is a great fella.
“I totally understand it 100 per cent and everyone needs to do what they think is right. There is no point riding for us every day and their heart being somewhere else or thinking he should be somewhere else.
“He has to try things and I definitely couldn’t say it will be the wrong thing. Seamus will ride a lot of good horses, for different people in good races, he has plenty of experience and hopefully there will be plenty of times he will ride for us again as well.”
Fozzy Stack’s Chazzesmee justified his status as the favourite to land the Nua Healthcare Irish Lincolnshire at the Curragh.
The six-year-old was second over course and distance when last seen in July and also has heavy ground form from a previous Naas success.
He is lightly raced with only nine runs to his name due to a previous injury and came into the race off the back of a 260-day break, though that proved no hindrance to him as he made his seasonal debut.
Under Joey Sheridan he travelled in the latter half of the field and began to make progress in the final two furlongs, joining the front runners in the last half furlong and eventually prevailing by a length on the line.
The run could now lead him to the Lincoln at Doncaster on Saturday should he come out of it well, and he has been halved from 20-1 to 10-1 for the contest with Paddy Power.
Stack said: “He did it well off a lay-off. We’ll see how he is during the week and he’s in the English Lincoln on Saturday. A 5lb penalty would get him into it.
“He’s never been short of ability, and we ironed out a few kinks in him.
“We brought him over to Saratoga last year and he got a stone bruise and couldn’t run on the day.
“Then when he was coming back he got stuck in some airport in Holland or Belgium for four days as a vet was giving out about some paperwork.
“We just ran out of time to run him. He broke his pelvis in Dundalk as a three-year-old so that’s why he was off for a year.”
Fozzy Stack’s Chazzesmee justified his status as the favourite to land the Nua Healthcare Irish Lincolnshire at the Curragh.
The six-year-old was second over course and distance when last seen in July and also has heavy ground form from a previous Naas success.
He is lightly raced with only nine runs to his name due to a previous injury and came into the race off the back of a 260-day break, though that proved no hindrance to him as he made his seasonal debut.
Under Joey Sheridan he travelled in the latter half of the field and began to make progress in the final two furlongs, joining the front runners in the last half furlong and eventually prevailing by a length on the line.
The run could now lead him to the Lincoln at Doncaster on Saturday should he come out of it well, and he has been halved from 20-1 to 10-1 for the contest with Paddy Power.
Stack said: “He did it well off a lay-off. We’ll see how he is during the week and he’s in the English Lincoln on Saturday. A 5lb penalty would get him into it.
“He’s never been short of ability, and we ironed out a few kinks in him.
“We brought him over to Saratoga last year and he got a stone bruise and couldn’t run on the day.
“Then when he was coming back he got stuck in some airport in Holland or Belgium for four days as a vet was giving out about some paperwork.
“We just ran out of time to run him. He broke his pelvis in Dundalk as a three-year-old so that’s why he was off for a year.”
Guineas hope Brilliant put her best foot forward to take the Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express Stakes on her seasonal debut at the Curragh.
Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old was placed at both Listed and Group Three level last term though only came away from her juvenile season with one win to her name in nine starts.
Under Declan McDonogh she started at 7-2 for her first run of this year and on heavy ground she travelled well before taking up the lead at the furlong pole.
From there she had to hold off a rival on either side but did so to claim a half-length success at Group Three level and book her place in the Guineas either on home turf or at Newmarket.
O’Brien said of the run: “I’m delighted with her and he gave her a very good ride.
“I think she probably had the best form in the race and, on her first run of the year, I’m delighted with her.
“She’d been working nicely and is a hardy filly. It’s a big call for three-year-olds against older horses on that ground at this time of the year.
“She’ll step up and a mile is good for her. That will be her trial and she’ll go into one of the Guineas now after that. She might end up going to Newmarket and back here.
“She doesn’t really want that ground but she went in it. A mile is probably her trip and she’s a sister to Alcohol Free.”
The Kenny Alexander camp has expressed their pride after star mares Kargese and Telmesomethinggirl went close to getting on the scoresheet at the Cheltenham Festival.
Spring Juvenile winner Kargese was part of a strong team of juveniles Willie Mullins saddled for the Triumph Hurdle and despite racing keenly in the hands of Danny Mullins, shaped the most likely winner jumping the final obstacle before being reeled in by the hugely talented Majborough in the closing stages.
It is the second year in a row Alexander has had to settle for a silver medal in the juvenile Grade One following Gala Marceau’s second to Lossiemouth in 2023.
However, Kargese could now continue to chart the same path her stablemate took 12 months ago, with both Punchestown’s feature juvenile attraction and Auteuil’s Prix Alain du Breil in the equation for later in the campaign.
“Kargese’s run I was watching and thought ‘we’ve got this, she’s going to run away’ and I have to admit I was gutted for the first hour or so after the race,” said the owners racing manager, Peter Molony.
“Looking back now, we have to be very proud of the run. She pulled her head off and fought for her head the whole way round and I think ultimately, that may have cost her. I know the winner looks seriously good but I think she would have given him a proper race if she settled a bit better maybe.
“We’re hugely proud of her. She is most likely to go to Punchestown and Auteuil for the French Triumph will also have to be under consideration – we were lucky to win that with Gala Marceau last year.”
Alexander has enjoyed many special moments at the Cheltenham Festival – mainly down to the exploits of dual Champion Hurdle winner Honeysuckle, who bowed out after her fourth straight victory in the Cotswolds in last year’s Mares’ Hurdle.
The owner came close to keeping his hands on the Mares’ Hurdle trophy after the fine effort of previous Festival heroine Telmesomethinggirl, as she just failed in her challenge of taking on Lossiemouth in the day one contest.
“We were so happy with Telmesomethinggirl,” continued Molony.
“We thought after her last run at Naas there was still a huge amount of improvement in her and Henry was very bullish she was going to give them something to think about, including Lossiemouth.
“The difference in her physical appearance between Naas and Cheltenham shows you how good Henry is at tuning them up for the big day and she was trained right to the minute, she looked magnificent.
“I think the ground was a little bit against her and she would have preferred good ground, although I’m not sure she would have beaten Lossiemouth on any ground – she’s a monster. But we were very proud of Telmesomethinggirl’s run.”
Now nine, the Henry de Bromhead-trained mare already has the next stage of her career mapped out for her, with a date with Blue Bresil already pencilled in.
However, she could get one more chance to showcase her talent on the racecourse having raised her game once again when visiting Prestbury Park.
Molony added: “She’s nine and is booked in to Blue Bresil and will hopefully be covered at some stage. Hopefully if she comes into season and everything is right, maybe in the next six weeks and we will try and maybe get one more run into her, maybe Aintree or Punchestown.
“However, I do think she is a 10lb better mare at Cheltenham, she just seems to love the place.”
One member of the Alexander string who slightly under performed last week was Jade De Grugy, who was sent off the 2-1 second favourite for a red-hot Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
A winner in France before transferring to Closutton, the Mullins-trained five-year-old impressed in her first two starts in Ireland, but was unsuited by the muddling pace in the Cheltenham Grade Two and, having had her momentum checked at a crucial moment could only finish fourth as the sprint for home unfolded.
Jade De Grugy could now be given a chance to make amends in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle on March 31 – a race the great Honeysuckle won herself in 2019.
“Of the horses that were placed, I think she was the biggest disappointment for us,” said Molony.
“They just crawled and it turned into a sprint and she got a bit scrummaged at the wrong time as they were quickening, so we were a little bit disappointed to be honest.
“We know she is going to be a very good mare and we’re going to have a lot of fun with her if please God she stays in one piece.
“Willie will have a look and see what he thinks and how she has come out of the race. There was talk before the race that if she came out of it well enough she could go for the Honeysuckle in Fairyhouse. That is a very quick turnaround, but we will see.”
Arizona Blaze made the perfect start to his career with a taking win on debut in the Castle Star And Alkumait At Capital Stud Irish EBF Maiden at the Curragh.
The colt is trained by Adrian Murray and owned by Amo Racing, whose new retained jockey David Egan took the ride after a spell riding for the outfit in America.
Arizona Blaze is out of a mare named Liberisque and by Sergei Prokofiev, for whom he was the first progeny to take to the track.
It was therefore a perfect start for the sire also as his son ran a pleasing race to prevail by a comfortable length and a quarter as the 5-4 favourite.
Murray said of the run: “David said he’s a very nice horse with loads of improvement. Hopefully he can build on this and maybe go to Royal Ascot.
“Whether he’ll have a run in the meantime we’ll have to wait and see.
“He rolled around a bit on the ground and will improve on better ground.
“He’s a very nice horse at home and we think a good bit of him.
“The further he went the stronger he looked.
“We have about 15 to 20 juveniles to run this year, not all for Amo.”
Real Force came out on top for Gerard O’Leary and Wayne Hassett in the La Celia Wines Handicap over five furlongs.
A 5-1 chance, the grey prevailed by three lengths in a convincing victory and will now take aim at a step up in trip and grade at Cork.
“He’ll go now to Cork for a Listed race in two weeks’ time over six furlongs,” O’Leary said,
“He was in great form. We didn’t work him as such but gave him plenty on the heavy sand on the Curragh and got stamina into him as he has natural speed.
“He could stay a mile and is just an athlete.
“It’s his time of the year. We were a little worried as the lads were saying it was gluey but he got through it nicely.”
David Menuisier is keeping his fingers crossed that Migration can recapture his old sparkle when bidding for back-to-back wins in the Lincoln at Doncaster on Saturday.
The veteran gelding finished strongly up the stands’ rail to storm past well-fancied duo Awaal and Baradar 12 months ago, scoring at 18-1.
He struggled to reproduce that form thereafter, trailing in well beaten on three subsequent outings, but they were all hot contests.
Migration stepped up to Group Three company in the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown, had to carry over 10st in the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot and signed off his season in a Listed contest at Saint-Cloud.
The handicapper has thrown him a lifeline by dropping his mark to 4lb above last year’s Lincoln triumph and Menuisier is hoping the fire still burns as brightly at the age of eight.
“Obviously, it’s a hard task but he is well, we know he likes the course and he likes to run fresh and he always runs well at this time of the year, so fingers crossed that the stars can align again,” said the trainer.
“He kind of lost his form late on last season, so it’s hard to predict what’s happening with those older horses.
“He stayed in the yard all winter, I didn’t give him a holiday this time around because he had a long break last summer, so we tried to keep him up to his work a bit more.
“We’ll see if it makes a difference. The ground will probably be very similar and maybe we just need a bit of luck.”
Awaal is the ante-post favourite to go one better this term after 56 entries stood their ground for the one-mile contest.
Simon and Ed Crisford’s five-year-old is back on the same mark after also going on to be placed in the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot and Newmarket’s Bunbury Cup before faltering in the second half of the season.
September course and distance winner Liberty Lane is also prominent in the betting for Karl Burke after being gelded over the winter.
John and Thady Gosden will seek to strike for the second time in four years via Mostabshir, while Jack Channon will bid to match the exploits of his father Mick with 2022 hero Johan.
“Awaal had to settle for second place behind Migration 12 months ago but Simon and Ed Crisford’s runner is being well backed to go one place better this time in the opening major handicap of the Flat season,” said Coral’s John Hill.
Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield added: “Last year’s runner-up Awaal, who has been our best-backed horse ante post, remains in the reckoning at the five-day stage and sits proudly at the front of the market as favourite for the Flat turf season’s traditional pipe-opener.”
Jeremy Scott’s Golden Ace has a handful of options after providing the trainer with a first Cheltenham Festival winner last week.
The six-year-old was second to Dysart Enos in an incredibly deep renewal of the Grade Two mares’ bumper at Aintree last season and was an instant success over hurdles this term.
After winning two Taunton contests in good style she headed for the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival, where she was a 10-1 chance as Gordon Elliott’s Brighterdaysahead led the market.
Under Lorcan Williams the bay took little notice of those predictions, however, and prevailed over the latter horse by a length and three quarters to give Scott his first ever winner at the meeting.
“It was just the best. I never thought it would work out like that but it was just fantastic,” Scott said of the performance.
Golden Ace, who is by Golden Horn and out of a Dubawi mare, could now head to Kelso for the Herring Queen Series Final, or alternatively there are options over both two miles and two and a half miles at Aintree’s Grand National meeting.
“She’s all good, she came out of the race really well,” Scott.
“We will see what mark we’ve been given, we’ve got the Herring Queen series at Kelso as an option, otherwise I imagine it’ll be Aintree.
“We’ll probably enter both races and see what the ground is like, there’s two miles and two and a half.
“She’s bred to stay so her trip should be around about two and a half, everything being well we’d want to aim her next year at the mares’ race at Cheltenham.”
Scott also provided an update on Dashel Drasher, who finished eighth in the Stayers’ Hurdle and is unlikely to run again this term as the ground dries up into the spring.
He said: “He’s grand, I suspect he won’t run again this season. There’s nothing really for him, the ground always seems to be wrong at Aintree.
“We’ll keep an open mind but unless it keeps raining I imagine we won’t run him at Aintree, but he’s come out of the race very well.”
In the wake of his successful re-election as president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) on Sunday, Michael Ricketts is poised to lead the charge in revitalizing football in Jamaica. Ricketts and his team secured victory in the elections held at the Royalton Regency in Negril, defeating Raymond Anderson and his RSA team with a vote tally of 39-17.
Reflecting on his campaign and victory, Ricketts while speaking with Sportsmax.TV, expressed both gratitude for the support received and a cautious optimism about the road ahead. He was also confident of victory.
"Let me first say thanks to the Father up above, who would have given me the mental strength to have gone through this campaign, which was terrible but I have so much to be thankful for. We had always canvassed the numbers and we were almost spot on because we had a meeting two days ago and we came out 40-16, so we would have lost one of those votes and it ended up at 39-17,” he stated.
As he looked ahead, Ricketts said his new administration would be looking to right some of the wrongs made during his previous administration.
“We have always been confident but guarded in our utterances. We would have made mistakes so the onus is now on us to ensure that we put some corrective measures in place as we try to move the football forward," Ricketts remarked, highlighting the need for prudence and diligence in addressing past shortcomings.
In his commitment to effecting positive change, Ricketts disclosed plans for reform within the JFF's leadership structure. Notably, he announced that Raymond Anderson would not be returning as a vice president in his administration. Instead, Ricketts introduced new vice presidents, including Gregory Daley, Elaine Walker-Brown, and Barry Watson, while also welcoming Rudolph Speid and Bruce Gaynor as ordinary members to the now 11-member board.
Addressing a pressing issue, Ricketts provided an update on the ongoing dispute with the senior Reggae Girlz over unpaid fees. He expressed optimism about recent developments, indicating progress towards resolution.
"Well, their representative has actually written to say that the girls have now agreed that we have paid them in full so I hope that that is the start of the process of rebuilding that relationship and getting these players to represent this beautiful land of ours," Ricketts affirmed, signaling a positive step forward in the effort to mend fences with the national team players.
Looking ahead to the future of Jamaican football, Ricketts pledged to engage stakeholders and pursue growth opportunities within the sport. Emphasizing the importance of collaboration and inclusivity, he underscored his commitment to working with individuals dedicated to advancing football in Jamaica.
"Our new committees will be put in place before this week ends and the work starts immediately. During this campaign period, I would have come across some persons who seriously have an interest in growing the sport. We will definitely be engaging some of these persons as we try to improve the brand and to grow football," Ricketts concluded
In a night of celebration and recognition, cyclist Nicholas Paul and sprinter Michelle-Lee Ahye emerged as the senior sportsman and sportswoman of the year, respectively, at the prestigious 61st edition of the First Citizens Sports Foundation Sports Awards and Hall of Fame Induction ceremony. The event, held at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain on Saturday night, honored the outstanding achievements of Trinidad and Tobago's finest athletes.
Nicholas Paul, 25, was lauded for his remarkable performances throughout 2023, culminating in a historic silver medal at the 2023 International Cycling Union World Track Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. As the world record holder in the flying 200m, Paul showcased his prowess on the global stage, demonstrating unparalleled speed and skill.
Adding to his accolades, Paul showcased his versatility and dominance at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, where he successfully defended his sprint title and secured silver in the men's keirin event. His stellar achievements solidified his status as one of the nation's premier cyclists, earning him the coveted senior sportsman of the year award.
Meanwhile, Michelle-Lee Ahye's exceptional year was highlighted by her outstanding performance at the Pan American Games, where she clinched bronze in the women's 100-metre event with a time of 11.53 seconds. Ahye's podium finish marked a significant milestone in her illustrious career and reaffirmed her status as TT's most elite women's sprinter.
Ahye's stellar track record includes a silver medal at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, further cementing her reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the world of sprinting. Her consistent excellence in local and international competitions earned her the esteemed title of sportswoman of the year.
Both Ahye and Paul were also honored with the 2023 TT Olympic Committee senior awards in December, further underscoring their exceptional contributions to Trinidad and Tobago's sporting legacy.
In addition to the senior awards, swimmer Nikoli Blackman and track and field athlete Janae De Gannes were recognized as the youth sportsman and sportswoman of the year, respectively. Blackman's stellar performance at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games, where he secured three gold medals, showcased his immense talent and potential on the global stage.
Similarly, De Gannes' remarkable achievements, including a silver medal in the women’s long jump at the Commonwealth Youth Games and a record-breaking performance at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Games Under-18 meet, earned her well-deserved acclaim as a rising star in Trinidad and Tobago's sporting landscape.
As Trinidad and Tobago's sporting heroes continue to inspire and captivate audiences both at home and abroad, the First Citizens Sports Foundation Awards serve as a testament to their unwavering dedication, passion, and excellence in their respective fields.
Rachael Blackmore became the first female jockey to ride a Gold Cup winner with her victory on A Plus Tard on this day in 2022.
A year after her trailblazing success in the Grand National, the Irish rider grabbed another slice of history at Cheltenham on the 3-1 favourite.
Blackmore had finished second on the same horse a year earlier, unable to get past stablemate Henry de Bromhead-trained Minella Indo.
This time she turned the result on its head, biding her time to come from four lengths behind into the penultimate fence to chase down Indo and sprint clear.
“I just can’t believe it. I’m so lucky to be getting to ride all these kind of horses,” she said in the aftermath.
“You can’t do this without the horses and being attached to Henry’s yard is just absolutely phenomenal. To give me this horse is unbelievable. I don’t know what to say.
“I’ve had so many special days. I wouldn’t swap the Grand National for anything, but this is the Gold Cup!
“You have all these plans about how things are going to work out. Racing doesn’t let that happen all the time and for some reason it’s happened to me today. I just can’t explain how lucky I feel.”
De Bromhead put it down to more than luck, adding: “Rachael was so brave, the way she went about
it, it was brilliant.”
Michael Ricketts has been returned to the presidency of the Jamaica Football Federation following elections held in Negril, Hanover on Sunday. Ricketts defeated challenger Raymond Anderson 39-17 in the vote count that was completed at the Royalton Resort in Negril, shortly before 5 pm Sunday.
Ricketts, who has been president since 2017, will now serve a second full term at the helm, after riding out the buffeting winds of controversy most of which centred around the fallout between Jamaica’s senior Reggae Girlz and the administration over alleged unpaid fees and general disrespect.
His slate is comprised of St Catherine FA President Elaine Walker-Brown, St James FA President Gregory Daley, Portland FA President Raymond Grant, and Manchester FA President Barry Watson. JFF Vice-President Bruce Gaynor and JFF Technical Committee Chairman Rudolph Speid are also part of Ricketts’s slate as ordinary directors.
Carole Beckford of Team RSA, Anderson's slate in commenting on the loss, stated, "39-17 suggests that the delegates voted in an overwhelmingly strong position to retain Mr Ricketts and his team, whether or that constitutes a failure (of Anderson's slate) is yet to be seen. However, I think we have ruffled enough feathers that people need to understand that football is not governed the way it should be to attract the kind of attention and sponsorship that is required. There are enough people on the RSA team that are still very much involved in their clubs, executives and in different formats and committees and Mr Ricketts says he will reach out to people, so let's see how that works.
"There are some very important years to come for football for Jamaica. This week is the Gold Cup competition. Football never stops, the election has just been part of the process our team lost and we will continue to support the development of football in Jamaica."
It is unclear at this time whether Anderson plans to continue as a JFF vice president.
"
In an electrifying start to the CWI T20 Blaze at Warner Park in St Kitts on Sunday, Leeward Islands Women and Guyana Women emerged victorious in their respective matches.
In a thrilling encounter, Leeward Islands Women clinched a hard-fought 12-run victory over Barbados Women, propelled by a stellar performance from Reniece Boyce. Boyce's impressive half-century, scoring 67 runs from just 52 balls, guided Leeward Islands to a total of 139-7 in their allotted 20 overs.
Naijanni Cumberbatch delivered an outstanding performance with the ball, ending with figures of 4-9 from her four overs.
Despite a valiant effort from Barbados Women, with Kycia Knight contributing 37 runs and Kyshona Knight remaining unbeaten on 50, their endeavours fell short as they were restricted to 127-5. Rozel Liburd led the bowling attack for Leeward Islands, claiming 2 wickets for 18 runs.
In the second match of the day, Guyana Women cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Trinidad and Tobago Women.
Trinidad and Tobago struggled with the bat, managing only 66 runs before being bowled out in 18.3 overs. Plaffiana Millington was the star for Guyana, returning remarkable figures of 4-5 from 3.3 overs. Shunelle Shaw was the top scorer for Trinidad and Tobago with 15 runs.
In the chase, Guyana Women displayed dominance as they reached the target with ease, scoring 67-3 in just 11 overs. Shabika Gjnabi led the charge with an unbeaten 24, supported by Shemaine Campbell, who contributed 19 runs.
Adamantly Chosen may have bumped himself up a few Grand National shortlists with a decisive victory at Down Royal.
Willie Mullins’ seven-year-old came into the Bluegrass Stamm 30 Chase having not hit the frame this season so far, and under Sean O’Keeffe he was a 3-1 chance in a field of five.
He has solid form further back on his record, however, and was second to both Mighty Potter and Gerri Colombe as a novice in two Grade One events last season.
Stepping up in trip to three and a quarter miles for the first time, the test of stamina seemed to suit him and he was comfortably the best on the day when recording a 14-length success over Roi Mage, with stablemate Classic Getaway a further six and a half lengths behind in third.
Adamantly Chosen has been halved from 66-1 to 33-1 for the Grand National with Coral and is currently 35th on the list – meaning he only requires one horse to come out for him to make the cut under the newly-introduced field size rule.
O’Keeffe expects him to be happier on quicker spring ground, and said after the triumph: “It was a good performance. I think the horse enjoyed maybe going a gear slower than he had been in the good handicaps. He got into a nice rhythm.
“We went a nice enough even gallop and, in fairness, I knew my lad had a bit of speed. I was kind of riding him for that, but I think he has shown that he stays today.
“When we got up to the third-last, he came alive again under me on the nicer ground. Hopefully into the spring on nicer ground, he will be better again.”
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