Yearling to top $3m mark at sale

The super weekend of racing will climax tomorrow with the annual Thoroughbred Yearling Sale in the official car park at Caymanas Park, starting at 9 a.m.

More than 250 lots are being offered in the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders (TOBA) sale which, over the past two years, has produced record-price yearlings.

Howard Hamilton, president of TOBA, predicts that this sale will erase the records set last year.

"With Jamaican-bred horses continuing to do well in Trinidad, we are expecting a large contingent of buyers from the Eastern Caribbean once again," said Hamilton.

"Last year, they purchased over 30 yearlings, among them a chestnut colt by Traditional out of She's On Wheels, bred by HAM Stables, which fetched the record price $2.8 million," he recalled.

Hamilton believes that with so many yearlings on sale this year, that record will go. The two-time champion owner believes a yearling will top the $3 million mark for the first time.

Already, Hamilton said there is a lot of buzz surrounding Lot 228, a chestnut filly by Royal Minister out of Miss Chestnut, which makes her a half sister to this year's Triple Crown winner Mark My Word, bred by HAM Stables Limited. In 2008, a bay colt by Image Maker out of De Barrel Come (Si Puedo), bred by Argyll Farms, fetched the record price of $2.7 million.

All the top stud farms and private breeders will be represented, including HAM Stables Limited, Argyll Farms, Henry W. Jaghai (Bombay). Y.S. (1955) Limited, Orange Valley Estates Limited, Lakeland Farms, Spring Park Stud Farm, Everglades Farms, Paradise Farm, Rentals and More; along with private breeders such as Phillip Azar, Carl Anderson, Lawrence Heftes, Percival Tomlinson, Allan F. Flowers, Derrick Brandt, James Chen, Joseph and Shirley McKessey, Owen and Solomon Sharpe and Ken Gooden.

Lots are available for inspection from 8 a.m. tomorrow.

- O.C.

SUPERSTAKES HONOUR ROLL

Year Horse Jockey (owner) Trainer

2009: Hombre (57kg) A. Martin (Wessel Burnett) Noel Ennevor

2008: Ad Infinitum (57kg) D. Nelson (Elias Haloute) Anthony Nunes

2007: Major Mayer (57kg) R.Mitchell (T.Y.S. Racing Stables) Michael McIntosh

2006: Miracle Man (57kg) A. Maragh (Joseph Duany) Allan 'Billy' Williams

2005: Miracle Man (54kg) A. Maragh (Joseph Duany) Allan 'Billy' Williams

2004: Distinctly Irish (54kg) W. Griffiths (Hamark Farms) Philip Feanny

2003: Pittacus (54kg) S. Ellis (E. Haloute & E. Lam) Anthony Nunes

2002: Menudo (57kg) Andrew Ramgeet (Richard Azan) Richard Azan

2001: Menudo (57kg) A. Ramgeet (R. Azan) R. Azan

2000: Menudo 57kg) A. Ramgeet (R. Azan) R Azan

1999: Menudo (54kg) R. Moore (R. Azan) R. Azan

1998: Terremoto (54kg) C. Hussey (E. Haloute) Anthony Nunes

1997: My Friend Rich (57kg) B. Harding (C. Jones) J. O'Brien (Barbados)

1996: Adoring Groom (54kg) B. Harding (A Poon Tip) J. Hadeed (T&T)

1995: Dorval (54kg) G. HoSang (R. Azan) R. Azan

1994: Restless Babe (55kg) A. Ramgeet (Sir C.O. Williams) Andrew Nunes

1993: Vestia (52kg) P. Williams (P. Feanny Dr Bradford (L. Clark) P. Feanny

1992: The Viceroy (57kg) G. HoSang (Roman Syndicate) P. Feanny

1991: Poorlittlerichgirl (51.5kg) J. Campines (Gee Bee) G Bucknor

1990: The Viceroy (57kg) W. Griffiths (Roman Syndicate) P. Feanny

1989: The Viceroy (54kg) W. Griffiths (Roman Syndicate) P. Feanny

1988: No race due to the effects of Hurricane Gilbert

1987: Prince Consort (57kg) W. Griffiths (H. Dallas & A. Lee) P. Feanny

1986: Baree Bahin (51.5kg) Ranjit Kisson (Mohammed Y. Ali) Eric 'Colt' Durant (T&T)

1985: D'S A Legend (54kg) W. Griffiths (D. Howell and S. Bryan) Kenneth Mattis

1984: Warfare (57kg) M. McFarlane (B. McLeod et al) P.J. Scully, in record time.of 2:02.3.

1983: Sir Howard, (54kg) G. Jones (Arvelis & Associates) P. Hart

1982: Kaz Hoshay (52kg) E. Rodriquez (A. Chin Fatt) P. Feanny

1981: Legal Light (57kg) F. Glispie (Jack Ashenheim) K. Mattis

1980: Thunderbird (54kg) F. Glispie (Los Teques Syndicate) H. McKenzie

1979: Mento Maid (51kg) Derrick Ramgeet (L. Gilzene) K. Mattis

1978: Legal Light (57kg) W. Griffiths (Jack Ashenheim) K. Mattis