CLASSIC WEEKEND BUZZ
The buzz is well and truly on as the Classic Weekend of racing, which includes the running of the 1000 Guineas (fillies only) on Saturday April 14 and the 2000 Guineas (colts and geldings) on Sunday April 15, draws nearer. This is the first known occurrence in local racing history that a Classic race is scheduled to be run on a Sunday.
Trackside, just a week before the season’s first Classic races are competed, juicy rumours are swirling about possible changes as railbirds and connections get increasingly tense as the big days get closer and closer.
Atop the mountain of rumours currently circulating is the choice of jockeys for horses set to run in both the 1000 and 2000 Guineas. Word out is that former champion jockey Shane Ellis has secured the ride on probably the favourite for the 1000 Guineas, the Richard Azan-trained Honey Ryda. If this is indeed correct, it would mean that leading rider Anthony Thomas will have to search for another 1000 Guineas mount outside of the Azan camp unless he goes on another possible Azan starter, Ackee Pie.
Jockey Robert Halledeen is set to reunite with Thornbird Stakes winner Disability Charm; Dane Nelson continues to prefer Band Of Gold; while stable rider at the Wayne DaCosta barn, champion Omar Walker, stays with the underachieving Bandy.
Talk is also circulating like a whirlwind that Nelson will not be returning to Canada this year to continue his summer riding stint in that country. Instead, Nelson, if the talk is correct, will be riding for the entire year at Caymanas Park.
My Sister — who finished a fighting third behind Disability Charm and Nadeshico after a bad start in the Thornbird with Oneil Beckford, is set for a rider change. Word out is that Dane Dawkins, the only jockey to win on My Sister, will again form a partnership with the filly in the 1000 Guineas.
The 2000 Guineas is no different from the 1000. This time the most noteworthy news involves Nelson and the possibility of him riding the Rowan Mathie-trained Another Vigorous, one of the pre-race favourites, instead of the DaCosta-trained Drummer Boy. If indeed this report is true, it would mean that DaCosta will have to seek another rider for his charge.
Last year’s champion two-year-old Marquesas retains the services of Ellis, with Thomas scheduled to get astride Prince Consort Stakes winner El Profesor.
Top 2000 Guineas contender Commander Two will seemingly have no headaches as regular rider Javaniel Patterson is again going to be on board.
Whatever the changes, one thing remains constant: the allure and mystique of the Classic races remains true and strong.