Solomon Sharpe (left), government chairman of Supreme Ventures Racing and Leisure Restricted (SVREL), presents the Chairman’s Trophy to Ajax Bjorn, proprietor of profitable horse Barnaby on Saturday, February 22, 2025. At proper is Anthony “Baba” Nunes, coach of Barnaby. (Picture: Joseph Wellington)
Barnaby’s spectacular 3 ½-length romp within the $2-million Chairman’s Trophy characteristic on Saturday, February 22, 2025 left little doubt that this four-year-old American-bred bay colt is a sizeable drive for future engagements.
Crossing the wire in a time of 1:31.2 (23,1 x 45.3 x 1:12.0 x 1:24.4) within the Graded Stakes/Open Allowance contest for three-year-olds and upward over 7 1/2 furlongs (1,500m), Barnaby’s dominance was a testomony to his quickly rising star. Ridden by Tevin Foster, Barnaby gained forward of two-time Horse of the 12 months
Atomica, with the bettering California Crown getting third place.
Coach Anthony Nunes was ecstatic with the efficiency, and his reward was effusive.
“I believed the efficiency was fairly good,” Nunes advised the Jamaica Observer’s The Supreme Racing Information.
“He hasn’t raced since January 1, and I might like to see this horse go two turns, to be sincere, so I’m pleading with the racing workplace to provide us a two-turn race. He actually needs to go lengthy,” he added.
Nunes’ enthusiasm was matched by his perception into Barnaby’s strengths and weaknesses.
“As you might see, coming away from the beginning gates he was not the perfect out, he doesn’t get into the race too powerful within the early half, however as soon as he will get rolling, he has a pleasant tempo. Even from the half-mile pole, if every little thing panned out the best way it seemed, he had them from there,” Nunes stated.
The coach additionally mirrored on Barnaby’s progress since his arrival final yr.
“When he got here right here final yr for the Mouttet Mile, he solely had 5 begins in the US, so he was really a reasonably younger horse, immature concerning the variety of races he ran in. Now that is his fourth begin right here, and so, I imply, I believe he learns day-after-day, and we’re additionally studying from him,” stated Nunes.
Nunes credited the change to jockey Tevin Foster for serving to Barnaby loosen up within the mornings and preserve vitality for the races.
“He’s pretty robust within the mornings and in order that was one of many the reason why we made a change with the rider. Omar Walker didn’t do something fallacious, however we bought Tevin to get him to loosen up within the mornings and never have him tempo away, so I believe it is part of the progress, and I’ll assume he’ll enhance as he goes alongside as a four-year-old,” defined Nunes.
Barnaby bided his day without work the tempo because the six-horse discipline thundered down the backstretch, with Mamma Mia (Jerome Innis) setting the early fractions forward of Atomica (Dane Dawkins), California Crown (Ismael Velasquez), and Pack Performs (Shane Ellis). However as the sphere approached the half-mile (800m) flip, Barnaby started to stir, his highly effective gallop consuming up floor as he gained on the leaders.
Atomica took over by then, trying to interrupt the sphere’s spirit with a daring bid for the lead. However Foster was ready for his cue, and as they turned for residence he requested Barnaby to unleash his full fury. In a blinding show of velocity and agility, Barnaby surged ahead, weaving previous his rivals with ease to confront
Atomica in a short however intense battle for supremacy.
However Barnaby was unstoppable, shifting gears with easy ease as he powered residence to a convincing victory, leaving his rivals in his wake.
Ajax Bjorn, proprietor of Barnaby, was beaming with satisfaction after his horse’s convincing win.
“I’m happy with the progress he’s made since arriving right here. We introduced him to Jamaica with a long-term plan in thoughts, specializing in the Mouttet Mile, not only for final yr, but additionally for this yr and subsequent yr,” Bjorn stated.
Bjorn mirrored on the disappointing begin to Barnaby’s Mouttet Mile marketing campaign final yr, when the horse was caught within the beginning gate for six minutes.
“He bought caught within the stall for six minutes earlier than the Mouttet Mile bought going final yr to at the least compete. We are able to see by his time right here that he might have competed if we had a greater service on the beginning gates originally,” he stated.
With the Chairman’s Trophy serving as a stepping stone to greater issues to return, Bjorn’s sights are already set on December for the Mouttet Mile.
“That’s our final purpose. December is the purpose, and something earlier than that doesn’t matter. That is only a prep race. I’m proud of every little thing,” he ended.
