Ainsley Walters, Staff Reporter
Marketing Director of Red stripe, Wayne Lawrence (second left), hands over the Red Stripe Superstakes Trophy to CTL Chairman, William Chin-See (second right) at last Tuesday's launch of Red Stripe Superday. Also in the presentation party are Mark McKenzie, managing director of Red Stripe and CTL's Marketing Manager, Millicent Lynch. The prestigious 2000 metre race will take place at Caymanas Park on Saturday, November 12. - CONTRIBUTED
JAMAICA'S BIGGEST and richest horseracing spectacle, Red Stripe Superstakes Day, the local equivalent of last weekend's Breeders' Cup Day in the United States, is all set for Saturday, November 12 at Caymanas Park.
The annual best-of-the best showdown, pitting classic-winning three-year-olds against tough older horses in the 1200-metre Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint, as well as the ultra-rich Red Stripe Superstakes at 2000 metres, was launched in fine style inside Red Stripe's Sports Club at Spanish Town Road on Thursday night.
Red Stripe Managing Director, Mark McKenzie, announced his company's increased sponsorship from $1.2m to $2.8m of the day's total purse, worth $9.8m.
Six sponsored races, dubbed the Red Stripe 'Six Pack', include the $4m Red Stripe Superstakes, which will feature a showdown among top older horses DISTINCTLY IRISH, PITTACUS and three-year-old stars MIRACLE MAN, AD INFINITUM, ROYAL COM-MAND as well as the filly ALL FOR PLEASURE.
DEFENDING CHAMPION
Champion trainer Philip Feanny, whose DISTINCTLY IRISH is the defending Superstakes champion, will also saddle the favourite in the sprint, A KING IS BORN, whose bid for back-to-back wins was crashed last year by Wayne DaCosta's JACK DE PRINCE.
This year's Red Stripe Mile for imported horses, worth $1.5m, should be a cracker as DaCosta's pair of CLOCK WORK and EXCLUSIVE RUNNER hold top billing against Peter McMaster's speedy filly, EXPLOSIVE PEAK, who is unbeaten in her last three races including the $1m Caymanas Track Limited Imported Stakes.
A rich vein of two-year-olds will this year ensure a competitive field for the 1400-metre Red Stripe Two-Year-Old Breeders Stakes featuring DaCosta's unbeaten SUPER NATURAL, going up against Feanny's trio of MINISTER ON FIRE, FIRE WORKS and the filly MYLEGACY for a purse of $1.5m.
An added feature to the 'Six Pack' will be the first running of the $500,000 Red Stripe Draught for Overnight Allowance runners at 1400 metres, complementing the already popular $345,000 Red Stripe Claiming Sprint for $160,000 Claimers at 1200 metres.
NEW LOGO
Pointing out that the pending privatisation of Caymanas Park won't alter its sponsorship, which is now in its 27th year, Red Stripe unveiled a new Superstakes logo, which Marketing Director Wayne Lawrence said was designed to "symbolise the 'premiumness' of the Red Stripe Superstakes".
The Red Stripe Jockeys' Challenge will top off the excitement expected to be generated by the nation's top thoroughbreds. The crowd-pulling challenge, decided on points for US$3,000, will again showcase Jamaica's Andrew Ramgeet among a trio of riders from Mountaineer Park in West Virginia.
Mountaineer's top jockeys, DeShawn Parker and Oswald Pereira, will again make the trip to Jamaica to take on the local contingent led by champion Trevor Simpson, Trinidadian Brian Harding, Charles Hussey, Winston Griffiths and Wesley Henry.
Punters at Caymanas Park will again revel in Red Stripe's festivities which include spot prizes valued at more than $300,000. In addition, the first 1000 patrons will each receive a free bet and Red Stripe beer on entering Caymanas Park.
A 'Six Pack' deal, six beers for $300, is expected to keep the park rocking all afternoon.
