Caribbean Sports Network

EX-CHAMPION jockey, Venezuelan Wilmer Galviz is coming to partner “Horse of the Year” Bruceontheloose in the Bernard Dulal-Whiteway Independence Cup. And connections of the improving Proud Kentuckian have gone for champion Jamaican rider Omar Walker who has won his country’s title for the past three years and is the current leader with 65 winning rides, having chalked up his 400th win on Wednesday last.

The race over 1800 metres is named in tribute to the late turfite and Neal and Massy chief executive officer, and is scheduled for the turf course with a total purse of $200,000, the winner to receive $120,000.

At a news conference at the Neal and Massy plant, Morvant, Dulal-Whiteway was lauded by executive chairman David O’Brien who said he brought to horseracing the very values and principles that he brought to the Neal and Massy group.

And he praised Dulal-Whiteway, a recipient of the Chaconia Gold Medal, at the Independence Day Awards two years ago, for his contribution to the nation through his service in several capacities in the public and private sectors.

O’Brien said it was this which prompted N&M to choose Independence Day to honour the late Dulal-Whiteway.

Meanwhile, it was announced that Cactus Amour twice conqueror of “Bruce” will have regular partner Ricky Jadoo in the saddle for the fifth meeting of the two horseracing superstars. And Cactus Amour showed he has kept his form after his epic victory over “Bruce” two weeks ago with a very good gallop over 1000 metres on Sunday morning, clocked in one minute 04.1 seconds.

Ex-champ and current leading jockey Brian Harding has been shifted to ride Raging Halo.

In the draw for positions also yesterday, Cactus Amour will run from No 6 gate and “Bruce” from No 8 in the nine-horse field.

The full draw with riders is: 1. TAP TO THE TUNE - Allen Maragh; 2. DIVINE BULL - Keishan Balgobin; 3. PROUD CHIEFTAIN - Omar Walker; 4. MISS HIGHOCTANE - Ryan Hasranah; 5. RAGING HALO - Brian Harding; 6. CACTUS AMOUR - Ricky Jadoo; 7. THE WELSH WIZARD - Gary Laban; 8. BRUCEONTHELOOSE - Wilmer Galviz; 9. PERFECT CIRCLE - Brian Boodramsing.