( L- R ) HABER AND HALOUTE
WHILE THE focus of attention among racing fans has been the ongoing battle for the jockeys' title between Trevor Simpson and Brian Harding, an even closer battle is looming between Alexander Haber and Barbados-based Elias Haloute for the owners' championship.
Three weeks ago it appeared to be a four-cornered tussle among the quartet of Haber, Haloute, Howard Hamilton (Harmark Farms) and Joseph 'Fudgie' Duany, all locked in the $10 million bracket at the time. However, Duany dropped out when his big money spinner MIRACLE MAN turned his attention to the Caribbean Classic in Puerto Rico, which unfortunately he was barred from contesting, having tested positive for tick fever while quarantined in Miami, then had to curtail his 2005 campaign.
Hamilton, on the other hand, had high hopes of winning by virtue of owning the two best horses in the country - A KING IS BORN and DISTINCTLY IRISH.
But 'The King' could only manage third to CLOCK WORK on his farewell performance in last Saturday's Gold Cup and DISTINCTLY IRISH has called it a day for the remainder of the season and will miss the million-dollar Harry Jackson Memorial Cup on Boxing Day.
So it has come down to long-time leader Haber and Haloute, or so it would appear, with Haber having amassed stakes of $11,752.200 coming into tomorrow's meet and Haloute $11,285.900.
Last Saturday, Haloute enjoyed a fruitful day with three winners in THE MINISTER, CRUISING ATTITUDE and LA REINA (along with a few place horses) to earn over $700,000 in stakes. But Haber shot back with a win in NATURAL DESIRE and a second place finish with FORMALLY GOLD in the Gold Cup to earn over $400,000 for the day.
The gap between them has narrowed to less than $500,000 and with both expected to run nearly all their horses over the three remaining race days, it could go either way.
Both, however, could possibly fall victim to many-time champion Richard Azan, despite the fact that he starts the day in fifth place with only $9.27 million.
Should Azan win the $3 million Supreme Ventures Jamaica 2-Y-O Stakes with hot ante-post favourite RAMPAGE and finish second with ACHILLES, he would have earned in excess of $2 million. This would take him pretty close to Haber and Haloute going into the final raceday on December 31.
Azan has enough supporting horses like BANJUHAR, BUSTER JACK and HAFIFA, among others, to make a race of it and this one could go down to the wire in a three-way photo. The Nunes stables will be hoping to take the double with Trinidadian Harding (jockey) and Barbadian Haloute (owner). This is a bet worth taking.
- O.C.
