England-born player Rhea Dixon is one of two newcomers selected in Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls squad for the 2023 Fast5 Netball World Series set for Christchurch, New Zealand from November 11-12, 2023.
The recalled Abbeygail Linton is the other 'newcomer' in the team that will led by Romelda Aiken-George with Adean Thomas as her vice-captain. Notably, the team will be without veterans Jhaniele Fowler, Latanya Wilson and Shamera Sterling.
Dixon, who represented England at the U21 level will be making her Sunshine Girls debut after expressing an interested in representing Jamaica for some time, Netball Jamaica Vice President Simone Forbes explained to Sportsmax.TV. She qualifies to represent Jamaica via her grandmother, who is Jamaican.
She has played for the Leeds Rhinos and Super Netball League outfit Loughborough Lightning in the United Kingdom. Standing at 1.80m (5’ 11”), the soon-to-be 26-year-old Dixon can play as goal-shooter, goal-attack and wing-attack.
Linton was selected in the Sunshine Girls squad that played against New Zealand in 2016.
The remainder of the team is comprised of Gezelle Allison, who returns to the set up after giving birth to her first child earlier this year, Theresa Beckford, Amanda Pinkney, Crystal Plummer, Kimone Shaw and Abigale Sutherland.
Hughie Morrison’s One For Bobby is set for an outing on Qipco British Champions Day – but conditions will dictate if Stay Alert joins her stablemate in the line-up for the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot.
The Berkshire track will be a fitting place for the four-year-old to end a successful season as it is the place her breeder Frank Dunne saddled the great Stanerra to register a Royal Ascot double in 1983.
She has won twice in four starts since joining Morrison ahead of the 2023 campaign and having secured Listed honours at Nottingham on her stable bow, she added a Group Three at Vichy in the summer.
One For Bobby was last seen finishing well held in the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville but her handler is now prepared to give the daughter of Frankel another opportunity at Group One level.
“She didn’t run her race the other day at Deauville and had a sore foot,” said Morrison.
“If we got her back to form, she might surprise a few people. I think she will get the one-mile-four, whether she is over the top or not we will find out on the day.
“She has got a Group and Listed win and that was what we were asked to do. She won at Nottingham and then won in France.”
On the potential participation of Stay Alert, Morrison added: “She’s a possible, but you wouldn’t want too much more rain.”
King Cuan has proven a real moneyspinner for Paddy Twomey this season and bagged another big pot in the Irish EBF Auction Series Race Final at Naas.
Since finishing fourth when a beaten favourite on his debut, he has subsequently won at Cork before landing the Goffs Sportsman’s Challenge at this venue.
Chasing the €70,800 first prize, Billy Lee always looked in command on the 4-5 favourite and while the 100-1 outsider Duplantis closed to within a head, the post came in time.
“The fun he’s after giving that syndicate has been brilliant. That roar you wouldn’t usually get on the Flat and it’s a nice welcome back,” said Lee.
“The race didn’t go as smooth as I wanted – I thought they would go a bit more of a gallop and I was trapped wide. I just tried to keep it as simple as possible.
“I knew I was probably on the best horse in the race, he’s cruised there and picked up to win well. He was just getting a bit lonely in front and on that ground you are never going to be ultra impressive.
“He gets seven well which opens up options for next year. He’s a game little horse.”
Jessica Harrington is enjoying a good end to the season and her Curvature (13-2) made every yard of the running in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Garnet Stakes.
Sent into an early lead by Garry Carroll, the three-year-old had gone close in a similar event at Listowel last time out and proved a determined filly.
William Haggas’ raider Good Gracious burst out of the pack to challenge but could never quite get on terms.
“She loves that if she can get onto the lead and she’s learning now,” said Harrington. “She was too fresh in Listowel as she hadn’t run for a while but today she was really good and it’s great to get that big black type.
“She was only cruising in front but it’s a long way home here in the straight and she kept on really well.”
Dancing Tango came from almost last to win the second Listed race on the card, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Bluebell Stakes.
Joseph O’Brien’s other runner Goodie Two Shoes looked to be going best two furlongs out but faded badly.
Azazat took over at the head of affairs but deep inside the final furlong Dylan Browne McMonagle brought the 13-2 chance with a real rattle to win going away.
“Things didn’t really go to plan out of the gates. I was in first and in there a long time and I’d planned to be in the first quarter if possible. We knew she stays well and she handles this ground,” said McMonagle.
“I was a little bit sluggish away and the pace was strong for the first five or six furlongs even for the grade we were in. I let her find her feet and I knew she would come home well, it was just a matter of getting a clean run.
“She’s an improving filly and deserves her success in this grade and was really tough today.”
Bravemansgame is likely to reappear in the Betfair Chase at Haydock before defending his King George VI Chase crown on Boxing Day.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls will consider the Charlie Hall at Wetherby for his first run, which he won last season, but at this stage is favouring the Grade One on Merseyside on November 25.
The eight-year-old was the only horse to give Galopin Des Champs a fright in the Gold Cup and then got much closer to him at Punchestown, only for them both to be beaten by Fastorslow.
“It is highly likely he will start this season in the Betfair Chase at Haydock which has been a brilliant race for me with horses like Kauto Star and Silviniaco Conti and the timing is ideal ahead of the King George VI Chase at Kempton,” said Nicholls.
“He is ticking over and could be ready for the Charlie Hall at Wetherby if the ground was suitable but we are leaning towards Haydock. It is an extremely valuable pot and Bravemansgame has won at the track.
“The ground at Wetherby was only just ok for him last year and we don’t want to be taking any chances. To keep our options open, we will probably give him an entry, too, in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury. It would be a tough ask for him off a mark of 172 but Denman won it off 174.”
One who could take in the Wetherby race is stablemate Pic D’Orhy, who won four of his five races last season, with his only defeat coming behind Shishkin in the Ascot Chase.
“I’m keen to step him up in trip and am getting him ready for the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby if the ground is suitable,” Nicholls told Betfair.
“He is bred to stay three miles and is always keeping on at the end of his races. Then we will probably look at the Peterborough Chase. If he does stay three miles, it will open up more doors for him.”
Stage Star was another star for the stable last term and Cheltenham in November is on his radar.
“He isn’t the easiest to place but is brilliant fresh and goes straight to the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham. We will then make a plan with the Ryanair Chase at the Festival a likely target in the spring. I don’t rule out a step up to three miles for him at some stage,” said Nicholls.
Guyana defeated Puerto Rico to take a stronger hold of first place in Group D of League B as the 2023–24 Concacaf Nations League continued on Saturday.
Omari Glasgow obtained his fifth goal this season to become the sole leader atop the scoring chart in League B. Guyana’s victory gives it a three-point gap over second-place Puerto Rico with a repeat encounter coming on Tuesday.
Javorn Stevens earned a brace to give Antigua and Barbuda its first three points. The Bahamas continues searching for its first point as it moves down to last place in the group.
Guyana came back to win 3-1 against Puerto Rico at the SKNFA Training Centre in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Both teams entered this match undefeated in the group and it was Puerto Rico who took the lead in the 11th minute on a goal from Leandro Antonetti. Darren Rios supplied the cross past the right post to find Antonetti for his first goal of the tournament.
Antonetti nearly extended the lead in the 47th but his attempt inside the box curled just past the top post.
Quillan Roberts came up with a big stop on Rios in the 56th to keep the score line within reach for Guyana. Glasgow tied the match in the 60th from the penalty spot after Kelsey Benjamin was brought down inside the box on the previous play.
Benjamin then gave Guyana the lead in the 63rd after capitalizing on a drive into the box by Liam Gordon.
Deon Moore put Guyana up by another in the 85th after stripping goalkeeper Joel Serrano and slotting home the goal that would secure the victory for the away side.
Bahamas vs. Antigua and Barbuda
Meanwhile, Antigua and Barbuda earned their first win of its campaign with a 4-1 result against the Bahamas at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas.
Javorn Stevens opened the scoring in the third minute with a header inside the box. Raheem Deterville was key in winning an aerial ball to set up the assist from Joshua Parker.
Stevens didn’t have to wait long to get his brace after striking again in the ninth on a counterattack. Dion Pereira intercepted the ball to set up Stevens on the breakaway.
Thomas James Bramble increased the lead in the 43rd after stripping a defender and proceeding to strike from inside the penalty arc.
A thrown-in provided the opportunity for the Bahamas to get on the board in the 62nd as Wood Julmis converted off the service inside the box.
Antigua and Barbuda kept pressing for another goal and earned a penalty past the midway point of the second half. Quinton Griffith converted from the spot in the 77’ to regain the three-goal lead.
Connections of Facteur Cheval are eager to see more rainfall at Ascot ahead of his tilt at the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Qipco British Champions Day.
Jerome Reynier’s ultra-consistent performer is yet to finish outside the first three in five outings this term, beaten less than two lengths on each occasion, with his last three appearances coming at Group One level.
The Facteur Cheval team are looking forward to another crack at Paddington having been short of room when second to Aidan O’Brien’s prolific winner in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.
“It’s the plan and he could run on any type of surface, but he’s better with some give in the ground and the wetter the better, like when he won the Prix Perth at Saint-Cloud,” said Barry Irwin, CEO of Team Valor, who own the horse in partnership with Gary Barber.
“We have skipped some other races he could have run in waiting for the race next weekend figuring it would be really wet again.”
If the ground is quicker than Facteur Cheval ideally likes, connections will use it as a guide to next year.
Irwin added: “I think at this point we’re looking at it as much, if not more, as a test to see how he handles that (quicker) going at this point of his life, as our goal next year is the Dubai Turf. This will be a good test to see how he handles that type of track.
“That mile up the straight at Ascot is more like a mile and eighth and that’s the distance of the Dubai Turf.
“That’s what we’re looking at and whether we are going to have a big impact on this race now – and unless we get lucky and the ground turns very soft – that is something we’re a bit concerned about obviously.”
Noble Yeats will not be seen until the new year when he will once again be geared towards the Randox Grand National.
The first seven-year-old National winner since 1940 when triumphing on Merseyside in the hands of Sam Waley-Cohen in 2022, he relished the Aintree fences once again when a keeping on fourth behind Corach Rambler in the defence of his title earlier in the year.
However, he has been given plenty of time to recover from a busy 2022-23 season and having just returned to trainer Emmet Mullins, will not be rushed back into action.
“He had a hard season last year so he’s had an extended summer break and has only just arrived back to me earlier this month,” explained Mullins.
“We won’t see him until after Christmas and I would imagine all roads will lead back to Aintree.”
Noble Yeats could return over hurdles in the new year as connections plot a path back to Aintree, with another crack at Auteuil’s Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris – in which he was a running-on seventh in 2023 – also on the agenda.
Mullins added: “There’s no races really in mind and I might even take in a conditions hurdle – he’s won one maiden hurdle – and start him off slowly and build up to the National and then back to France.
“They are two aims for the back-end of the season.”
Noble Yeats entered the Gold Cup reckoning when landing the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree last December, but the second half of his 2022-23 campaign was hallmarked by staying on strongly to hit the frame but ultimately coming up short in his big-race assignments.
Sean Bowen was often seen having to push Noble Yeats along as he looked slightly outpaced during the midpoint of those races but despite cheekpieces being employed for his last three starts, Mullins is in no doubt about his star chaser’s will to win.
“It’s a funny one and I’m sure if someone had their tracker speeds on him then he is not slowing down mid-race, it is probably as fast as he can go,” said Mullins.
“He’s a relentless stayer and no one can fault his attitude in a finish.”
Cheltenham Festival hero Seddon will have the chance to follow in the footsteps of Hewick when he heads to Far Hills for the American Grand National on Saturday.
John McConnell’s stable star is the latest Irish challenger for America’s top jumping prize and the handler is relishing the opportunity to add to the 10-year-olds burgeoning CV in New Jersey.
Seddon has proved a shrewd acquisition for McConnell and owners the Galaxy Horse Racing Syndicate winning four times last season, including providing his handler with a first Cheltenham Festival victory when claiming the Magners Plate before adding to his riches over hurdles at the Punchestown equivalent.
He was last seen being denied by a neck at Galway last month and his trainer believes his versatility could be an asset ahead of his latest big-race assignment.
“It’s exciting and something different,” said McConnell.
“He’s most definitely been a star and a horse of a lifetime for his syndicate, myself and Ben (Harvey, jockey), so anything from here on in is a bonus.
“It was an exciting opportunity to have a go at and hopefully he comes home safe and if he runs his race I will be happy.
“He jumps very well whether it is hurdles and fences so I don’t think that will be a problem and nice ground and the trip will be OK. I suppose it all depends on how he settles in but we’re very hopeful.”
It will also be a big afternoon for jockey Ben Harvey who has struck up a fine partnership with Seddon and will be riding for the first time in America.
“Ben rides him and he’s looking forward to it,” continued McConnell.
“Obviously he has never ridden over there before but he’s a good judge of pace and we wouldn’t have anyone else on him at this stage.”
Raiders from Britain and Ireland have a fine recent record in the Far Hills feature with Hewick using the race as a stepping stone to bigger and better things last year and McConnell has been given plenty of advice from Hewick’s handler John ‘Shark’ Hanlon ahead of Seddon’s cross-Atlantic adventure.
He added: “Shark paved the way and I’ve had a good chat with him about it.
“He has been very helpful and in fact everybody has been really helpful to us along the way and I just want to get see him get on the track and get it over with now.”
Last season was somewhat a breakthrough year for McConnell who as well as tasting success at all three of the major spring festivals, matched his highest number of winners tally in the UK and almost doubled his previous best on home soil.
Now the Stamullen-based handler believes he has got his best ever National Hunt squad heading into the depths of winter and as well as the familiar names of Seddon, Mahler Mission and Anna Bunina, McConnell has highlighted dual bumper winner Intense Approach as one who could thrive this term.
“They are all coming together nicely,” said McConnell. “Some of the bigger yards are starting to roll out now so that will be challenging and we’ll definitely mix it between the UK and Ireland over the winter.
“We’ve got the best set of jumps horses we have ever had so hopefully that will get us some rewards.
“Intense Approach would probably be the horse to watch, he’s won two bumpers for us in Ireland and he will go hurdling. We really like him and think he is a fairly special horse.
“He’ll start off in a maiden and see after that, but he’s a lovely horse and hopefully we will go to some top places with him.”
Saeed bin Suroor secured his 500th Group-race winner as his 1000 Guineas heroine Mawj returned to action with a victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland.
Not sighted since beating Tahiyra at Newmarket, the diminutive filly showed she is still a force to be reckoned with and a Breeders’ Cup bid now beckons.
Making all the running under Oisin Murphy in the nine-furlong contest, she could either take on the boys in the Mile or step up to 10 furlongs for the Filly & Mare Turf.
Bin Suroor said: “Thank God. This is great (for me) to win 500 (Grade and) Group (races) and a Group One with the filly Mawj, a classic winner. To come to America, to Keeneland, to win is a great result for everybody.
“It looks to me she has plenty of speed as a miler and she made it today nine furlongs. But we’ll see. The mile might be the best for her, sure, but I want to decide closer to the race.”
Murphy said: “Saeed was delighted with her work at home and he asked me to sit on her last week just before she flew (to America) and she felt brilliant. She felt back to her best.
“We did quite quick sections in the first half of the race, but she is a superstar filly. She found plenty. She’s got a great heart and mind.
“I’m delighted to win for Godolphin and Saeed here; it’s his 500th Group winner, so for me to ride it for him means the world.”
If ever there were doubts about Blue Vinyl’s readiness for the major events at the backend of the season, those would have been erased, as the four-year-old colt threw down the gauntlet with an impressive 21-length win in the Mark My Word trophy feature at Caymanas Park on Saturday.
Piloted by Javaniel Patterson, Blue Vinyl, last year’s 2000 Guineas and St Leger winner, demonstrated his usual class in a bold front-running effort on this occasion which crippled rivals in the three-year-olds and upwards Open Allowance contest over nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m).
Now conditioned by Alford Brown, the Bern Identity -Bluefield progeny made it two wins in three starts for the trainer and third in four starts this season.
With the expected pacesetter I Realise scratched from the initial six-horse event, it was left for Blue Vinyl to dictate terms and the M.N.M Racing Stables-owned charge duly obliged.
Patterson got Blue Vinyl put well from the wide number six draw and the two comfortably laid the fractions with Outbidder (Phillip Parchment) in tow for most of the way.
However, when Blue Vinyl gradually injected some tempo leaving the half-mile and later powered home under a strong hand ride, it was D Head Cornerstone (Dane Dawkins) that finished best for the runner up spot. Miniature Man (Reyan Lewis) and Outbidder, completed the frame.
Blue Vinyl won in a decent 1:54.2 after splits of 27.1, 52.2, 1:17.2 and 1:41.1.
Brown expects nothing but the best from his charge going forward with the lucrative Mouttet Mile being his main target.
“It was very impressive and going forward now, the sky is the limit," Brown declared.
"We are preparing for the Mouttet Mile, that is the main goal so from here on it is just about keeping him sound and healthy and then we will see what happens.
“It is a possibility we might run him in the Jamaica Cup, but we have to see how he comes out of this one first. But we want to take it one day at a time," the trainer added.
Meanwhile, trainer Gary Griffiths and jockeys Raddesh Roman and Tevin Foster all won two races each on the nine-race card.
Griffiths saddled Exotic Light ridden by Devon A Thomas in the fifth race and the Foster-partnered Digital Light in the eighth event. Foster also won aboard the Fitzgerald-conditioned Sir John in the last race.
Roman’s winners were Rohan Kabir in the opening event for trainer Oral Hayden and Dale Murphy's Bella Bella in the sixth.
Racing continues on Sunday.
The stage is set for a massive day on Sunday in Group B of League A of the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League, with the final quarterfinal spot up for grabs among Cuba, Honduras and Haiti.
Haiti vs. Jamaica
Haiti’s quest for the quarterfinal berth will face a very big test against group leaders Jamaica at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
Jamaica occupy pole position in the group with seven points and have already sealed their quarterfinal berth but will still be keen to find a victory and secure a first-place finish.
Meanwhile, Haiti, with three points, remain alive for a second-place finish and quarterfinal berth, but must first defeat Jamaica and then hope the result of the Honduras-Cuba match go in their favour. A draw between those two sides in Honduras and a healthy Haiti win could give Haiti the goal difference needed to advance.
The Jamaicans were very impressive when they downed Grenada 4-1 on Thursday, as they got goals from four different players, including Shamar Nicholson, who is now Jamaica’s all-time top scorer in the CNL with five goals.
Thanks to a goal from Mikael Cantave, Haiti played to an entertaining 1-1 draw with Suriname, their third straight draw in this CNL. Haiti extended their CNL unbeaten run to 12 matches, with five wins and seven draws.
Honduras vs. Cuba
The action then shifts to the Estadio Nacional Chelato Ucles in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, where the home team and Cuba find themselves in a must-win situation.
Cuba currently sit second in the group on five points, with Honduras just behind in third with four points. Simply put, it is win and you are in for both Cuba and Honduras where a quarterfinal berth is concerned.
A draw could also be enough for Cuba to advance, provided Haiti drop points against Jamaica.
These two sides met on Thursday in a feisty affair that ended in a 0-0 stalemate. There were golden scoring opportunities for both sides, but neither could find the final touch. This time around, the likes of Yasnier Matos for Cuba and Edwin Rodriguez for Honduras will try to inspire their teams’ attacks.
Cuba have registered six wins and two draws in their last eight CNL matches, but Honduras will have history on their side, as the Catrachos have won five of their six matches against the islanders.
Suriname vs. Grenada
Group B will then come to a close at the Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion in Paramaribo, as Suriname host Grenada.
This will be a meeting between the bottom two teams in the group, with Suriname at fifth on two points and Grenada in sixth with a solitary point.
While their 2024 Copa America dreams are no more, there is still motivation to avoid relegation and a victory for either might be enough to assure safety for another League A campaign.
Grenada suffered a 4-1 defeat to Jamaica 4-1 at home in their last outing but did show some spunk going forward and got a goal from Trevon Williams.
Suriname also showed their dangerous side in the first half of their 1-1 stalemate with Haiti on home soil and were bolstered by a goal from Ridgeciano Haps.
President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, pledges support to Cricket West Indies (CWI) for the redevelopment of cricket in the Caribbean through infrastructural development, cricket programmes, and commercial opportunities.
On 13 October, 2023, President Ali and CWI President Dr. Kishore Shallow, met at State House in Guyana as part of the commitment to strengthen stakeholder relationships across the region. CWI Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe; CWI Independent Director, Manniram Prashad; and Owner of Guyana Amazon Warriors, Dr. Ranjisinghi Bobby Ramroop were also in attendance.
The Head of State reiterated his commitment to establishing a partnership with CWI to improve the overall performance of West Indies cricket. One of the primary objectives will be establishing a High-Performance Centre in Guyana to service cricketers from across the region.
His Excellency said, “We are excited as a government to play our part with the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and Cricket West Indies (CWI) in the new re-development of cricket in the region. We welcome the partnership with CWI in the development of a regional High-Performance Centre and cricket academy here in Guyana."
He added his intention to work with the CWI President to advance the popularity and growth of the sport on multiple fronts in the Caribbean.
"We are also working with President Dr. Shallow and Cricket West Indies on advancing some innovative ideas in bringing more opportunities to our cricket players and spectators in the Region. I believe strongly that defining our product as distinct from other regions and countries is critical in the rebranding and repositioning CWI globally. Such a plan must incorporate the culture, people and natural beauty of our region."
President Ali underscored the importance of collaboration between parties with an interest in advancing the development of cricket at every level. He said, “I urge CWI to unify their efforts in rebuilding and strengthening our cricket in the interests of all stakeholders.”
Dr. Shallow lauded His Excellency for Guyana’s investments in cricket thus far and recognized the potential of collaborating with Guyana. He expressed, “President Ali’s commitment to cricket is evident with the major investments to stage the magnificent cricket festival, including the CPL finals in Guyana. His zeal for the success of West Indies cricket is unquestionable. This partnership with Guyana promises tremendous value for our young and emerging cricketers who will have access to world-class facilities and programs comparable to the best in the world. I emphasize that for West Indies teams to be iconic again, it is imperative that there is considerable collaboration between CWI and governments in our region.”
Guyana has successfully hosted the last two Caribbean Premier League (CPL) finals. Their cricket festival, culminating with CPL's final, is emerging to be a regional calendar event, having attracted thousands of visitors to Guyana.
AutoSmart, a leading car insurance company underwritten by General Accident (GenAc), will sponsor the Treasure Beach Football Club (TBFC) for its first season in the Jamaica Premiere League (JPL), the highest level of professional club football in Jamaica.
The sponsorship agreement and cheque handover took place at a small ceremony at the AutoSmart offices in Kingston on Tuesday, October 10.
GenAc Chief Operating Officer Gregory Foster was pleased to make the presentation noting that, “We see where our partnership can be mutually beneficial and support a bigger dream. We look forward to a good season for the team.”
In fact, the Club will make their first showing in the JPL having emerged as winners of Tier II to advance to the top tier of Jamaican professional club football for this season. It is the first time in 43 years that a team from St Elizabeth has ventured into the top tier. The TBFC is also unique in that it is the only club in the league that is owned and operated by a non-profit organization, BREDS - Treasure Beach Foundation.
In his presentation, BREDS Chairman Jason Henzell outlined the long, yet rewarding, path to the achievement. “Ours is a story of community development in Treasure Beach merging with the sporting excellence of STETS,” he explained. Henzell, a community activist in his own right, lauded the input to many individuals that contribute to the “strong structure” of the Club. He called out BREDS President Paul Bernard for his belief and faith that drives the Club.
Bernard was quick to note that the success of the Club to date is a “collaborative effort” having “synchronized all our skills.” He attributed the Club’s success to a commitment to structure and discipline. In reference to the AutoSmart collaboration he noted that, “we are very happy to have the AutoSmart brand on board. Alone we cannot make it. Together we can. And we will wear your brand with pride,” he said to roaring applause.
Moved by the presentations, Foster revealed that, “at AutoSmart, we can relate to the story of being the underdog and we know that if you continue to remain disciplined, ensure that remarkable team spirit that propelled you to the Jamaica Premiere League, and maintain the camaraderie, we think that the Treasure Beach Football Club will make an admirable showing.”
The $3 million sponsorship earns AutoSmart pride of place on the team jersey sleeve. Additionally, in collaboration with the Treasure Beach Football Club and wider community, AutoSmart will offer special discounts to community club supporters.
The JPL kicks off on October 22, 2023.
Coolmore’s Michael Tabor described City Of Troy as “our Frankel” after his superb triumph in the Native Trail’s Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.
The colt arrived at the track unbeaten after easy wins in a Curragh maiden and the Superlative Stakes, but he was far from a guaranteed contender as the soft ground threatened to scupper his run.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien eventually gave the son of Justify the go-ahead and under Ryan Moore he was sent off the runaway favourite at 8-15.
The juvenile made all the running to cruise to a three-and-a-half-length victory and now the Classics, and indeed a possible Triple Crown bid, beckon.
Owned by Coolmore, a group comprised of John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, the colt has exalted company to contend with but is still regarded as one of the best, if not the best, horse to have ever represented the owners.
Tabor was at the Rowley Mile track to witness the victory and was effusive in his praise for a horse he hopes can develop into Coolmore’s answer to the great Frankel, who bowed out unbeaten in 14 starts with 11 of those victories coming in Group One company.
“This horse is our Frankel, I really think that. There is no question in my mind, by his comments, that Aidan thinks this horse is probably the best he’s ever trained,” he said.
“He was nervous with the ground and when you tackle that unknown factor, there’s always a chance that they just won’t do it. He’s got that action, that very low action, but they say that a good horse goes on any ground.
“This is a good horse and he obviously does go on any ground, but I’d say he’ll be much better on top of the ground.
“I know the way Aidan speaks and we’re all optimists – you have to be in life in my opinion, in this game especially – but this horse is special. No question, he is special. He is the real deal.
“Let’s hope he is as popular as Frankel was but he’ll only get that popularity as time goes. Hopefully as time goes on he’ll win all the big races and the accolades will be given to him. I like to talk before the event and I really feel that this horse could be anything.
“It’s always been John Magnier’s dream to win the Triple Crown and we were very unlucky years ago with Camelot, he got beaten a three-quarters of a length in the St Leger.
“The St Leger trip can be a trip too far but let’s take one at a time, to me the Guineas and the Derby are very realistic. Get me a bookmaker that would lay me a price!
“Aidan says this horse doesn’t get tired! Aidan is very enthusiastic, if he doesn’t believe in something then the yard doesn’t believe in it and you have to give people confidence, but I know the way he is and this is something special.”
The owner’s son MV Magnier echoed the dream of finally winning the Triple Crown after Camelot’s agonising defeat.
He said: “It looks like it’s possible. Beforehand I was talking to Ryan and he said the horse that he rode in the Superlative was the best two-year-old that he’s ridden and he would beat any two-year-old he’s seen. That was some confidence going into the race and then afterwards he said he’s definitely the best two-year-old he’s ridden.
“His mother (Together Forever) won the Fillies’ Mile here a few years ago and her sister won the Oaks. Justify, Bob Baffert always said that he was a very good two-year-old but he got injured, he won the Belmont Stakes over a mile and a half so technically, he should get a mile and a half.
“It’s what everybody wants to do, it’s all about the Derby, it’s all about the Triple Crown, it’s really the pinnacle that everybody aims for. I’ll put it to you this way, we’ll keep trying to win the Triple Crown.”
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