Canadian-born trainer, Nicholas Tomlinson will send out Deccan Prince in this year’s Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup, which is scheduled to run on March 7th at the Garrison Savannah. Raised in Toronto, Ontario, the 31-year-old horseman is Bajan by descent. Tomlinson’s Barbadian-born father, Brian Alleyne, has worked the starting gate at Woodbine for over twenty years. Walks ‘hots’ as a teenager at Woodbine, Tomlinson gradually progressed up the ranks from hotwalker, to groom and then to becoming an assistant trainer. A familiar face on the backstretch, Tomlinson also used to work for Malcolm and Sally Pierce. For ten years, Tomlinson worked as an assistant trainer to Hall of Fame conditioner, Mark Casse. In 2025, Tomlinson ventured out on his own, setting up shop at Palm Meadows in Florida. Nicholas Tomlinson Tomlinson’s trainee, Deccan Prince was flown in for owners, AMG racing and Deryck Lynch. How did Tomlinson land on the six-year-old Irish bred horse? “He came along at the right time. He is staying over here (Barbados) after the race. He had to do 28 days quarantine to do that. It wasn’t just a matter of finding the right horse, it was finding the right horse at the right time. And he fit the bill,” said Tomlinson. The ownership group, AMG racing is comprised of three brothers: Jan-Yves Watkins, Damian Simpson and Kevin Hill. Damian Simpson started out as a groom at Woodbine and now owns Woodbine-based runner Uncaptured Moment with his two brothers. When asked about his game plan for his first Gold Cup starter, Tomlinson advised: “I live by the saying that a good jockey doesn’t need instructions and a bad one can’t follow them. A lot of the time your race is won at the break. I think we are just going to play the break and go from there. One thing I hate to see is a horse jump so well from the gate and the rider takes him back – unless that’s their running style. If he (Deccan Prince) is comfortable and happy with where he is at, I’m perfectly fine with wherever he is in the race,” said Tomlinson. Deccan Prince Deccan Prince’s pilot, Rico Walcott secured the 2015 Gold Cup with Sayler’s Creek for Ken Ramsey and his late wife, Sarah Ramsey. In 2023, at Woodbine, Walcott won the Gr 2. King Edward stakes with War Bomber. Walcott is planning to return to Woodbine this year. While Tomlinson’s operation is based in the U.S., he did not rule out a trip to Woodbine in the future. “Woodbine is where it all started for me. To be able to go back and to have a horse in any race, just for me personally is a goal of mine. How I get there – I’m not a 100 percent sure, but I want to be able to get up there.” To the shock and disappointment of racing fans, Hall of Fame rider, Patrick Husbands has decided to sit out this year’s Gold Cup. About six weeks ago, the 52-year-old jock told local news outlets that he would ride his last race in Barbados either in late Jan or on Gold Cup day. “I am not riding, period,” advised Husbands. In terms of retiring from race riding Husbands mentioned that he would like to consult Mark Casse before making a final decision. “I will speak to Mark Casse and run it by him and hear what he has to say. If things are not looking good on my end I won’t be starting back. I will come back to Barbados, apologize for not riding the Gold Cup and just ride one day in Barbados and that’s it,” said Husbands. Riding at Woodbine for over three decades, with over 100 graded stakes wins to his name, Husbands is a household name for Barbadians and Canadians alike. At age 16, the Barbadian-born jock won his first Gold Cup aboard Vardar. Husbands has won four Gold Cup during the course of his storied riding career. Husbands was scheduled to ride Sir London for Barbadian trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and owners, One Guyana Racing. Joseph Jr. who is based in the U.S. won last year’s Gold Cup with Harrow for same ownership group. Champion Barbadian jockey, Rocco Bowen has now been named on Sir London. This year, Joseph Jr. brought seven-year-old gelding Sir London and six-year-old gelding Divin Propos for the same ownership group, alongside five-year-old horse, Abrumar for owner Ken Ramsey. The Gold Cup, which is open to three-years and older, usually features a mix of locally trained horses and international shippers from the U.S and Canada. It’s an interesting gamble for the international horses, especially for those who’ve never run on a right-handed track. At the Garrison, the horses run clockwise. At Woodbine, they run anticlockwise. Like several other Gold cup horses, this will be Abrumar’s first outing at a right-handed track. The lightly raced horse began his racing career at Woodbine about three years ago with Nathan Squires. Abrumar will be piloted by Bajan jockey, Rasheed Hughes, who was last year’s leading rider out west at Century Mile and Century Downs. Hughes also piloted Harrow to victory in last year’s Gold Cup. Joseph Jr’s other trainee, Divin Propos, will be ridden by UK based rider, Tom Marquand. Other Gold Cup contenders include former Woodbine runner, Public Sector, who finished sixth in last year’s Grade 2 bet365 King Edward Stakes. Public Sector also ran against ’23 King’s Plate winner, Paramount Prince in the ’24 Grade 2 Seagram Stakes. The eight-year-old horse, trained by Romel Lovell for Melrose Stable will be ridden by six-time Gold champ, Jalon Samuel. Samuel has been riding in Canda for the last twelve years, shifting his tack from out west to Woodbine about eight years ago. In 2018, Samuel won the Gold Cup with 2016 Queen’s Plate winner, Sir Dudley Digges. So Suave, who previously raced for Martin Drexler at Woodbine is hoping to clinch top honours in his third Gold Cup outing. In 2023, he ran third and in 2024 he finished fifth. Shortly thereafter So Suave was sent to stud and spent 525 days away from the racing oval before resuming his racing career in February at the Garrison. Bajan rider, Rickey Walcott will be aboard the nine-year-old Irish bred runner for owner, Nalicia Cozier and trainer, Jean-Marc Cozier. Portfolio Company, who won the 2024 Gold Cup will have Rey Williams aboard. Williams won the 2017 Sovereign Award for outstanding apprentice. Local jock, Antonio Bishop will guide Smokin’ T in this year’s race, while Canadian based rider, Demario Bynoe will be aboard Jerry the Nipper. The two former shippers turned locally based runners, finished second and third, respectively, in last year’s Gold Cup. Lastly, Barbadian Kyle Carter who primarily rides in Alberta will ride the recently imported 4-year-old colt, Bulldoze. Claimed for 17.5k at Gulfstream on Christmas eve, Bulldoze is coming off a two-month layoff heading into Saturday’s race. The 43rd Grade 1 Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup is RACE 7 on Saturday’s card at the Garrison Savannah. Post time is 5:45PM Atlantic Standard time (4:45PM EST). Livestream link here: www.barbadosturfclub.org/live-stream/ Hayley Morrison, for Woodbine Share This:Share
