Stars continue to align for newbies Cassiopeia Racing

Racing stars continue to align for Mouttet MIle-winning ownership group Cassiopeia Racing Inc Ltd, whose second acquisition, United States-bred FOREVER FIRE (Friesanfire-Foreverinmyheart), made a winning debut in Saturday’s eighth race for three-year-olds, getting the better of fellow American, IAM WHO I AM, by a head.

Ridden by Robert Halledeen for champion trainer Jason DaCosta, FOREVER FIRE rallied to beat Philip Feanny-trained IAM WHO I AM at five furlongs straight, keeping Cassiopeia Racing’s record intact at 3-0, three wins from as many starts.

Cassiopeia Racing, a seven-strong, all-female syndicate, a cast fit for the social pages, first struck racing gold with December’s US$300,000 Mouttet Mile winner RIDEALLDAY, who was purchased by the group after landing the November 16 Port Royal Sprint.

Its most recognisable face being Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, two-time 100-metre Olympic gold medallist and five-time world champion, Cassiopeia Racing is now celebrating RIDEALLDAY’s $24.9-million payday in the Mouttet Mile, the grey colt’s commanding win in the April 6 Ian Levy Cup, which had a winner’s purse of $2.1m, plus FOREVER FIRE’s debut win.

RIDEALLDAY’s Ian Levy winner’s purse and FOREVER FIRE’s $573,300 has historically placed the all-female ownership group 10th on the owners’ leader board at Caymanas Park with stakes of $2.8 million, bumping One Guyana Racing down to 11th with $2.4 million.

In addition to Fraser-Pryce, who has won more individual global sprint titles than any other female sprinter in history, Cassiopeia Racing’s part-owners include Jacqueline Stewart Lechler, director, Stewart’s Auto Sales Limited.

Cassiopeia Racing’s ownership group also includes Cheryl Peart, promoter of Live and Direc and wife of Mayberry Group Chief Executive Officer Gary Peart; Jan Lawe, executive international health insurance adviser, Lawe Insurance Brokers; Donna Waithe, senior vice-president, human resources and administration, Main Event Limited; and Stephanie McConnell, mother of rally driver Fraser McConnell and wife of Peter McConnell, managing director, Trade Wind Citrus Limited.

Rounding out Cassiopeia Racing Inc is Isiaa Madden, chief architect, The Pinnacle, a four-tower, 28-storey, cutting-edge luxury resort in Montego Bay, the tallest residential towers in Jamaica.

Gary Peart, executive chairman, Supreme Ventures Limited, parent company of racing promoter Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited, said Cassiopeia Racing’s success bodes well for local racing.

“I believe it is huge when women see other ladies as owners in the sport of horse racing. There is a difference between owning a race horse for fun and gambling,” Peart pointed out.

“A group of seven women took a risk by purchasing RIDEALLDAY after the Port Royal Sprint and it paid off by them winning a $45m race worth $24.9m to the new owners.

“They are now 10th in the owners’ standings and have won three races from three starts. You can’t ask for a better script,” Peart added.