Just Call Me Boss rules at ‘Race of Champions’
Just Call Me Boss looked like just another horse at the Port Mourant Turf Club yesterday.
That was until the final furlong.
At that point, the thoroughbred with accomplished jockey, Paul Delph in the stirrups pinned back its ears and kicked clear to win the feature C and Lower 1300m event of the ‘Race of Champions’ meet, beating race favourite, Vera’s Finally in the process.
The Dark Brown gelding stormed out of first post and bided its time as one of Guyana’s premier race horses, Princess She Is Not set a blistering pace in the cool conditions.
The move under the blue sky came in a flash.
Princess She Is Not had the lead, Lucky Star and Vera’s Finally who fetched a top weight of 123lbs were lurking as the patient Delph was waiting for the right moment to go.
The four-horse race was going according to his plan.
Around the second turn, Delph angled the champion race horse to the inside of the pace setter and the horses were neck-and-neck with five furlongs to go. And then the theatrics started to unfold.
Princess She Is Not changed gears, sweeping up Vera’s Finally along for the gallop. With the two steeds leading, the crowd roared in anticipation of a Vera’s Finally, Princess She Is Not photo finish. And then it happened. With one breathtaking surge over the final furlong, Just Call Me Boss on the hips of Princess She Is Not and Lucky Star seemingly never tired, displayed his superb sprinting speed. The steed drew off on the home straight to claim the $1M first prize for his handlers from the K. Jagdeo Stables by about a half length ahead of Princess She Is Not.
Lucky Star which was won by a raffle earlier this year, was guided to a hard fought third, two lengths back, while Vera’s Finally, two-time winner of the Guyana Cup finished fourth after uncharacteristically tiring on the stretch.
The win marked the second time Just Call Me Boss has upset Guyana’s premier thoroughbred in the six starts since being imported last year from Florida. Vera’s Finally won the four other starts. Their head-to-head record now stands at 3-2 in favour of Vera’s Finally.