Jamie Spencer captains strong GB team in Barbados jockeys' challenge

Jamie Spencer will captain a formidable Team GB side when they do battle with the best local riders in the fourth staging of the Winter Jockeys’ Challenge at the Garrison Savannah in Barbados on Saturday.

Spencer will be joined by Danny Tudhope, runner-up in this year’s British Flat Jockeys’ Championship, Seamie Heffernan, rider of 2019 Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck, Luke Morris, Stevie Donohoe and Louis Steward for the four-race series.

Barbados's reigning champion jockey Rasheed Hughes, who steered Celestial Hero to victory in the 2019 Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup, will captain the home side that also features eight-time champion local jockey Anderson Trotman, Affrie Ward and crack apprentices Eric Daniel, Delano Lopez and N’Rico Prescod.

Spencer said: “It’s an honour to captain Team GB. I’ve ridden around the Garrison several times but won’t be offering much advice to our boys because many of them have ridden all over the world on all sorts of tracks.

“What I will tell them is that it is vital to break smartly and secure a prominent early position. The Garrison is only six furlongs in circumference, two furlongs less than Chester, so you don’t want to get too far back.”

Team GB fared well in the draw for post positions that took place on Thursday, securing favourable stalls in three of the four races. Additionally, the visitors were fortunate with the lucky dip for mounts, some of which are likely to be prominent in the market.

Heffernan said: “We will need plenty of luck – five of our team have never ridden here before while the local lads know the place like the back of their hands. We’re looking to giving them a run for their money, though, and it should be an exciting afternoon’s sport.

“The Turf Club has the course in great condition and there’s a great buzz about the event. The local racing community has given us a warm welcome and we love being here.”

The event, which has only once been won by the visiting team in recent years, has attracted sponsorship from several organisations, including the Barbados Lottery. It was the brainchild of Jeff Laughton, a UK-based owner and breeder.

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