Subratie eyes derby success
Published:Tuesday | June 9, 2020 | 12:24 AMRobert Bailey/Gleaner Writer
Veteran racehorse trainer Gary Subratie believes that he has a glorious opportunity to win his first Jamaica Derby this year.
Subratie, who has been a trainer for over 20 years at Caymanas Park, will be banking on his three-year-old colt, WOW WOW, to give him his first derby success.
WOW WOW, who is owned by Michael Bernard, has won nine out of 10 career races to date.
Subratie, who won the Trinidad and Tobago Derby in 2013 with BIG MAN IN TOWN, told The Gleaner that he is very confident that his charge would be victorious in this year’s Jamaica Derby, which has been shifted to October due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I think that I can most definitely win this Derby because that horse is a really special horse, and I don’t think we have seen the best of him yet,” said Subratie.
“My horse is only going to improve because I have never really trained him for a particular race, and I am not going to change my programme to suit anybody but my horse. Once my horse tells me what he wants, then I will give it to him,” he said.
The veteran trainer, who has finished third in the Trainers’ Championships over eight seasons, underlined that WOW WOW has had a number of setbacks to his preparations for the Classics this year but noted that he has now fully recovered and is ready to compete.
“He was really sick during February when we had a virus outbreak at the track, but he has come along nicely,” said Subratie. “He also got a little colic a couple of weeks ago, but he is coming on nicely again. He has been striding out nicely, and I am really pleased with the work.”
LEADING CANDIDATES
ENGLAND ROSE, who handed WOW WOW his first career defeat, along with DOUBLE CROWN and MAHOGANY, are the leading candidates to win this year’s derby.
Subratie underlined that he respects his challengers but stated that his horse would be ready for the Classic races once he remains sound.
“He might be running a couple weeks from now, and we will see what he does in that race and draw our line from there,” Subratie said.
“The derby is way in October, and we have a long way between now and October. The Guinness is next month, and, hopefully, we will be there for the Guinness and everything goes right,” Subratie said.
NIPSTER, who is also trained by Subratie, is also expected to line up in this year’s derby.