Carnival Messiah and Millenium Reign show fire

CARNIVAL MESSIAH and Millenium Reign looked in top shape when rounding off preparations on the exercise course at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday for their engagements in the Carib Brewery Limited Trophy Caribbean Champion Stakes on Saturday. The duo which captured the Royal Oak Derby the two previous seasons main objective in the 1800-metres feature is to try and break the sequence of this year’s triple crown winner Top Of The Class, who will be going after the biggest payday in the history of the local sport. “The Student” has already banked $363,350 in stakes money for owners Merlin Samlalsingh and Rupert Leong Poi. Trainer Glenn Mendez’s star also secured for the partnership a $250,000 bonus offered by Colonial Life Insurance Company for capturing all three classics, the Easter Guineas, Midsummer Classic, and Royal Oak Derby.

And the illustrious son of Freshly Squeezed/Crescendo is set to dent the coffers of the insurance giants by a further $750,000 if  he adds another notch to his belt in the eight-horse staying event, which will be simulcast to Woodbine Racecourse in Canada and other North American tracks. Millenium Reign who, with Bound To Dot Com and Maid Of Honour form champion trainer John O’Brien’s attack looked in great form in his final blow-out yesterday. Breezing the last 600-metres of the left-handed sand course, the four-year-old noted for his stamina clocked 35.97 seconds and carried his run further before tapering off on the backstretch. Carnival Messiah, the oldest of the three derby winners has a mission to accomplish. The 2001triple crown winner had a chance to become the biggest money spinner after winning the trip-part series. But after banking the $250,000 for capturing all the  three-year-olds classics,  failed to add the $1 million incentive offered by CLICO.

He has been in good form since beating the top bracket earlier this month. And The Messiah  showed he is holding his form well with another impressive display over 800 metres which was timed in 49.90 seconds. Trainer Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj also used the main course yesterday to give his juveniles their warm up spin for the Malta Carib Trophy Juvenile Sprint, the first of four big races on Saturday’s ten-race card. Java Takeover and All Set To Battle registered 35.37 seconds for their spin over 600 metres, and Laura’s Boy and Melanie My Love went well in company with Majestic and Tea Time Doc over the same trip in 35.70 seconds. Salsa Moves who is expected to head the market in the 1300-metres event had only a light preparation ambling over the last 400 metres in 29.90 seconds.

Following are gallops recorded yesterday:
400 METRES: Bonus Point - 24.03 - good; Tricky Guy - 24.62, good; Sunny - 29.94, pacing; Privilege, Takeover, and Euro Star - 29.91, Stormy Season - 26.50, handily; Cold Risk - 25.43, handily; Seductive - 29.53, pacing; Salsa Moves - 29.90, pacing; Yaa Asantewaa - 29.93, pacing; Storming Wind - 26.27, handily.
600 METRES: Millenium Reign and Isle Be There - 35.97, good; Inthelineoffire - 35.67, good; Grey Warrior - 35.97, good; Majestic, Laura’s Boy; Tea Time Doc and Melanie My Love - 35.70, good; Ballybunion - 35.87, good; Hollywood Star and You’ve Got Mail - 36.52, good. Native Love - 37.37, handily; Bound To Dot Com and Fresh Mandate - 37.45, good; Ichiban - 42.15, pacing; Hyarima - 44.70, pacing; Squeezed Moment - 44.75, pacing; Smart And Lucky - 37.25, handily; Mister Hypocrit - 40.59, handily; Mucho Tempo - 44.98, pacing; Solid Gold, Sou Sou Moni, Ex Koo and Deadsure - 44.94, pacing; New Star - 40.79, handily; Daurian - 42.86, pacing.  
800 METRES: Carnival Messiah - 49.06, good; Super Grey - 49.90, good; Crimson Tower - 51.40, handily; Golden Grades and Love Movement - 59.96, pacing; Living In Hope - 56.71, pacing; Cat Woman - 59.93, pacing; Punto A Punto - 51.38, handily; Sweet Tempo - 57.89, pacing; Copy Cat - 52.58, handily; Premier Attraction - 52.09, handily; Noble Man - 51.46, handily; Born To Charm - 55.08, handily; City Of Lights - 55.50, handily; Never Ever Worrie - 55.31, handily; Soul Asylum - 51.98, handily; Van Lou - 55.12, handily.
1000 METRES: Finest Gem - 1:07.32, handily; Iron Will - 1:12.05, pacing; Golden Shufleur - 1:14.48; Brandy - 1:11.53, pacing.