Top Of The Class makes history

TOP OF THE CLASS wrote his name into the pages of local horse racing history with a fluent victory in the feature Carib Brewery Trophy Caribbean Champion Stakes at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday. Always in cruise control from the off in the 1800 metres event, jockey Ricardo Jadoo kicked for home 300 metres out and his  seven “challengers” were left struggling. Phantom Menace who tracked leaders Undisputed and The Student, made a forward move 800 metres out, but he was always second best, while Millenium Reign, an early backmarker ran on without ever threatening the first two. Victory yestersday gave Top Of The Class the Colonial Life Insurance $750,000 bonus to add to the triple crown he won earlier and put him over the $1 million mark in earnings this season. Napoleon made mince meat of four top sprinters to land the Carib Beer Trophy Caribbean Sprint Championship over 1200 Metres. Toying with the Guv’nor as the small field was sent away, The Emperor floated away 600 metres out and had three-and-a-half lengths to sparerunner-up Man Of Class at the finish, while being under tight wraps.

But the biggest flop of the day was Salsa Moves who failed to reproduce his erlectrifying burst which took him to a 14-plus victory last time out, and could manage only fourth in the Malta Carib Trophy Caribbean Juvenile Sprint over 1300 metres. He failed to put on any moves although well-placed early, and saw Pave The Way scoot clear in the straight to win by four-and-a-quarter lengths from Mucho Tempo with Nowornever third. The other “big race,” the Stag Trophy Imported Juvenile Sprint over 1200 metres, was robbed of much glitter with the early withdrawal of speedster Smart And Lucky. The stable companion Fabulous Risk, installed as the new favourite, twice slipped through the gates and had to be withdrawn. Newcomer Twice Infallible won the event to reward backers withg $25.70 and $4.50 on the tote. But the best tote return of the day was on Living In Hope — $33.80 and $6.70 — and together with Groomsman, New Star and City Of Lights produced the biggest superfecta dividend of $1,258.50. Star rider of the day was Jadoo (R) who landed three winners, while leading jockey Brian Harding had two. Honours were shared by Glenn Mendez and Grant Lourenco who saddled two winners each.