Sonia Davidson (left), vice-president, group corporate communications, Supreme Ventures Limited, hands over a $6.5-million cheque to CTL's director, Howard McKenzie, representing her company's total sponsorship of the 2009 Supreme Ventures 2-Y-O Series to be run at Caymanas Park during the last quarter. Occasion was yesterday's launch of the series at the Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston. - Contributed

This year's renewal of the Supreme Ventures Triple Crown series for native-bred two-year-olds offers a whopping $11.8 million in prize money, including a million-dollar bonus to the owner of the horse good enough to win all three races.

Plans for the ultra-rich series were outlined by representatives of Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) and Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) at yesterday's launch at the Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston.

The first race in the series, the fifth running of the Cash Pot 'Only One For Me Trophy' (Grade III) over 1200 metres, will be run at Caymanas Park on Saturday, October 17, with a purse of $2.95 million.

Time-honoured renewal

This will be followed by the Pick-3 Super Challenge Trophy (Grade II) over 1400 metres on Saturday, November 28 (a prelude to the first Sunday meet) with a purse of $3.6 million, while the series will climax on Boxing Day, Saturday, December 26, with the time-honoured renewal of the Supreme Ventures Jamaica 2-Y-O Stakes (Grade I) over 1600 metres with a purse of $4.25 million.

Paul Hoo, chairman of Supreme Ventures Limited, in announcing the company's increased sponsorship, said "We have committed $6.5 million towards the purse money this year, up from $5.86 million in 2008."

Continuing, Hoo said he was hoping that there will be a winner of the 'Triple' to benefit from the million-dollar bonus and the prestigious Supreme Ventures Jamaica 2-y-o series trophy.

"Many of you know that I have a deep passion for horses and, as such, share the joy of this Sport of Kings when I attend races at Caymanas Park.

"This sponsorship has been a tremendous success for us at SVL," he declared.

"Many times we get the question: Why do you sponsor horse racing?

"I can tell you that for us at SVL, we see our partnership with CTL for these sponsored racedays as a strategic synergy.

"Isn't it wonderful, when two major players in a business sector can look at the bigger picture and put together a programme that provides great entertainment value for its target market ... a market that overlaps but reaps all the benefits from this partnership."

Impressively

To get the ball rolling on Saturday, SVL will put up an addition $850,000 to be divided for the purses of nine additional races offered for the Cash Pot Raceday, as well as a number of promotions in the stands, including the Cash Pot Dip in the Pot which offers a first prize of $100,000.

In providing raceday details, CTL's racing secretary Denzil Miller Jr said the race should be quite interesting, with the likes of AL FOUZIA, who has won her last two races most impressively, the unbeaten REGAL SENSATION, stable companion SILENT IMAGE, RED SONJA, PRINCE THEO, PEDRO BLUFF, CITY TRAIN, OSADA, AWESOME ANNETTE, INOJA, MARK MY WORD, FLYING MARGARETT and ONLY BEGOTTEN SUN among those expected to face the starter.

A notable absentee will be the impressive colt SPORTS STAR who is unbeaten in two starts. His trainer, Anthony 'Baba' Nunes, disclosed that SPORTS STAR sustained a slight sore shin after winning last Saturday and will miss the race as a result.

"We would rather be cautious," said Nunes. "He'll not be racing if he's not in good shape," he said of SPORTS STAR.

Other trainers present were Dwight Chen, Harry Parsard, Leroy Fearon and Rowan Mathie, whose AL FOUZIA is a leading contender in the absence of SPORTS STAR.

Among those present were CTL director Howard McKenzie, Ian Spence, president of the Jamaica Jockeys' Guild, Paul Pancho, president of the Grooms' Association of Jamaica, and Philip Feanny, a director of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association of Jamaica.