Groom: WOW WOW ready for Derby success
Published:Thursday | October 29, 2020 | 12:07 AMRobert Bailey/Gleaner Writer
Errol Thomas, the groom of WOW WOW, said his horse will be difficult to beat in Saturday’s 100th running of the Jamaica Derby, once his jockey Robert Halledeen rides a perfect race.
The Jamaica Derby, which is the premier event on the racing calendar, will be contested over 12 furlongs and will feature the island’s top three-year-old horses at Caymanas Park.
WOW WOW, who is the ante-post favourite in the event, will run from gate seven in the 11-horse field.
The race also feature his stablemate NIPSTER, who scored a massive 31-1 upset victory over WOW WOW in the Jamaica St Leger, which was contested over 10 furlongs last month.
The event also includes ONEOFAKIND and MAGHONY, who finished third and fourth, respectively, in the St Leger, making for an exciting contest.
A much better horse
Thomas believes Halledeen did not ride WOW WOW according to the instructions that were given to him in the St Leger and, therefore, he is expecting a much better performance from the jockey on Saturday.
“He is going to be a much better horse going into this race, because the last time he ran the jockey made some mistakes, and so I am confident that he is going to make up for it in this race on Saturday,” said Thomas.
“He is in fine condition going into this race, because he has worked really well and he is properly trained, and so with a better ride from Halledeen, I know that he will win this race,” he said.
WOW WOW was beaten by NIPSTER by two and half lengths in the St Leger, but Thomas underscored that his horses will enjoy the additional two furlongs in the Derby.
“He is looking really well going into this race because he is eating, and that is a very important thing for a horse to do. The 12-furlong journey will not be a problem for him because he has done well in a nine furlong and 25 yards, and also 10 furlongs,” he argued.
Thomas, who is seeking his first Derby success, stated that he is hoping that WOW WOW will end this drought.
“This is the best horse I have every groomed in all my over 30 years of being a groom, and so I am expecting great things from him on Saturday,” said Thomas.