When Early Bird made all the running and repelled the late challenge of Nuclear Power in the Stewards Cup over 1,200 metres on the main track at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, many thought it to be a fluke. However, the three-year-old gave local racing a major boost when he landed the 2019 Stewards Cup title on Novemver 30.
One month later, on New Year's Day, trainer John O'Brien produced the Hugh Leong Poi owned winner Early Bird, to win the first Graded Event for the 2020 racing season - The National Flour Mills - Sian's Gold Sprint over 1,100 metres on the turf track.
On Wednesday, Early Bird made all the running to win the Prestigious Grade One sprint, from stablemate Trini Aviator and the Glenn Mendez trained Spoke In Yuh Wheel.
Punters could not be fooled and they installed the locally bred horse as the 6-5 favourite to lift the $78,900 first prize cheque.
Early Bird and Brian Boodramsing flew out of the gates and though pressed going up the back-straight by Khalessi and Spoke In Yuh Wheel, he was never going to be headed.
Champion jockey Brian Boodramsing stated after the victory, "He is a good horse, he has won on the dirt and now he showed his class with a superb win on the turf. One thing is certain he knows where the finish line is. He ran his heart out and though they looked like they are getting to him, he pulled more."
Champion trainer O'Brien was happy with the victory. He said, "This is good for racing. He has shown that he is a quality horse, he has taken the weight and beaten the best horses in the country. He has improved and maybe we should look to take him to Barbados for a crack at one of the sprint events.
Early Bird's groom Billy Joseph was the happiest man at Santa Rosa Park and as he journeyed to meet his champion he said, "This is a champion, he won on the dirt and he has now won on the turf. He is a champion. They thought he would not be able to take up the weight and win and my guy showed them, how god he was. That is a champion."
R7: NATIONAL FLOUR MILLS SIAN'S GOLD SPRINT (GR.III) 1100M $131,500
1*(8)*Early Bird*B Boodramsing*57*
2*(1)*Trini Aviator*C Rojas*54*
3*(7)*Spoke In Yuh Wheel*R Jadoo*54*
4*(4)*Tiz A Vibe*S Balroop*51*
TIME: DISTANCES: 1/2, 1/2, 1 3/4.
$1PARI: (8) $2.40; $2.30; (1) $2.45
EXACTA: $14.80
TRIFECTA: $67.30
SUPERFECTA: $415.70
WINNER: 4 y.o DK B gelding - Gold Market/Rosalinda (Awesome Again)
OWNER: Hugh Leong Poi TRAINER: J O'Brien
BREEDER: Hugh Leong Poi
ALSO RAN: 5. Stockyard R Ali 57; 6. Pauseforacoors R iHernandez 54; 7. Khaleesi K Santo 50.
NON-RUNNERS: Awesome April, Whisper Light
