Walker to ride in Trinidad

Three-time champion jockey Omar Walker will leave for Trinidad on Sunday to ride the American-bred colt PROUD KENTUCKIAN in the prestigious Independence Cup grade one feature over 1800 metres (nine furlongs) on the turf at Santa Rosa Park on Tuesday.

Trinidad & Tobago will mark its annual Independence Day celebrations on Tuesday (August 31) and the big race meet put on by the Arima Race Club is one of the events to mark the occasion.

Walker, who leads the standings with 65 wins, will ride PROUD KENTUCKIAN for former champion trainer (most wins) Glenn Mendez and owner Steve Madoo.

PROUD KENTUCKIAN is one of 11 top-class horses nominated for the race, which has also attracted reigning 'Horse of the Year', the Jamaican-bred BRUCEONTHELOOSE and his recent conqueror, CACTUS AMOUR.

The American-bred colt, who is also trained by Mendez, handed BRUCEONTHELOOSE his only two defeats in 12 starts since arriving in Trinidad a year ago, the more recent in the Norman Gabriel President's Cup (grade II) over 1900 metres (9¹/² furlongs) on August 14 by a short head after a stirring stretch duel.

Ricky Jadoo will again have the leg over CACTUS AMOUR, while former Trinidadian and Jamaican champion jockey Brian Harding will again ride the 4-y-o grey colt BRUCEONTHELOOSE.

Incidentally, PROUD KENTUCKIAN finished third to CACTUS AMOUR in the August 14 race, only to be disqualified and placed last for causing interference.

Completing the field are DIVINE BULL, MISSHIGHOCTANE, RAGING HAL, SATTRIYA, STRAIGHT AHEAD, THE WELSH WIZARD, TAP TO THE TUNE and the Jamaican-bred PERFECT CIRCLE.

It is understood that Florida-based Jamaican jockey Allen Maragh will ride the American-bred TAP TO THE TUNE.