'Too much of an ordeal'

The 2019 champion trainer, Anthony ‘Baba’ Nunes, says after his recent experience with his now four-year-old colt SUPREME SOUL he has no intention of racing his horses overseas again. After a near three-month sojourn in Florida where he competed and placed eighth in the Clasico Internacional del Caribe SUPREME SOUL returned to the island in less than satisfactory condition on Monday.

Nunez, who has a long history of preparing horses for racing across the Caribbean. migrating horses from Jamaica to race in countries like Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and the United States, believes the more than 50 days quarantine for last year’s Triple Crown winner for tick fever was inhumane, and after seeing his prized horse return in less than ideal health condition, he is discouraged from ever going overseas to race again.

“I am not even sure I am interested in travelling any more. It (the quarantine of SUPREME SOUL) is a shame because I previously had no qualms about travelling, which I have done so many times before. But I do not wish to put any of my horses or owners through the ordeal we just went through. That includes the Caribbean region. It’s a different thing if you are asking me to ship a horse to another country to stay. But to go and race and come back to Jamaica I think those days are over for me,” he said.

“I will never say never because things can change over years but right now that is my gut feeling. To ship, race and come home is too much of an ordeal for me. And it is not good for horse racing if a leading trainer is not travelling anymore,” he reasoned.

He also believes some of the local racing bodies were partly responsible for Supreme Soul’s extended stay in the US. “We have a far way to go as a country, a vet division, as a racing fraternity when it comes to travel and representing your country. A lot of things will have to change before I venture down that road again. I am not happy with the Veterinarian Services Division. I felt they caused him not to be here and to be in the position he is in because he was not allowed to come back,” he said.

Couldn’t return home

After SUPREME SOUL competed in the Caribbean Classic at Gulfstream Park, he was not allowed to return home after he tested positive for tick fever. The (US) Veterinary Services Division insisted he be treated in the United States. The disease is not endemic to the United States and the drugs for his treatment was not readily available.

At the time Nunes also criticised the local Veterinary Services Division for not accepting SUPREME SOUL back into Jamaica, even though the majority of horses at Caymanas Park carry the tick fever agent.

Meanwhile, Nunes is saddened by how much SUPREME SOUL’S health has deteriorated. He does not think the 2019 Triple Crown winner will be able to race again for the next four months at least.

“He arrived yesterday (Monday). His condition is poor. I would say he lost around 200 pounds.

He has some muscle troubles on in his buttock and his hooves are very soft, so we need to work on his feet. He was standing in a stall for 58 days, he wasn’t led out, he was just left standing on dirty bedding. He really needed a bath when he got here, he was filthy,” Nunes described.

“I wouldn’t look for SUPREME SOUL racing anywhere for the next four to six months. My concern (now) is getting him back healthy and take it from there. He’s a special horse to me. He’s my Triple Crown winner. He has done a lot. But the most important thing for him now is to get him back to a healthy, happy state,” he continued.

“I can’t tell you if he will ever get back to his best … but I will give him all the time in the world to get back to hopefully where we want him,” he said.