Shane Collymore Secures Victory astride Rene at Barbados Turf Club Season Opener

Shane Collymore heralded his return home in grand style on the opening day of the Barbados Turf Club’s third and final season of racing with a pole-to-pole victory astride Rene in the feature race at the historic Garrison Savannah on Friday evening to climax the Welcome Back Raceday.

Going 1 100 metres on a good to soft track in falling rain, Rene, the six-year-old chestnut horse by Zwick out of Purr Class, plugged across the ground to hold on for a half-length victory in the Welcome Back Handicap for horses rated 85-65.

The final time for the Hayden Nicholls trainee was one minute, seven seconds.

Lightning Lewis with Rickey Walcott up tried in the closing stages but just could get no further than the winner’s back legs mid-stretch. Dancing Prospector, under apprentice Devante Prescod surged late at the rails to come home a close third from Major Dan and jockey Rey Williams. (LY)