Sweet Gold Cup for Sugar Mike

SUGAR MIKE made it look ridiculously easy in capturing the Guardian Gold Cup on the final day of the Arima Race Club 2003 season at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday. And the American-bred four-year-old bay colt must now be named Horse of the Year, after he gave three-year-old Triple Crown winner Top Of The Class a sound five-length beating in yesterday’s 2000 metres race worth $75,000 to winning owner Bertwin Samlalsingh, who also got bragging rights over brother Merlin Samlalsingh, who together with Rupert Leong Poi owns The Student. From the off, Top Of The Class and Outswinger set out to make the running with Phantom Bidder and Sugar Mike tracking the leaders. With still 800 metres to run, jockey Ricky Jadoo kicked on with The Student, but champion rider Brian Harding astride Sugar Mike would have none of it and sent his charge forward to keep close touch.

A loud roar from the mammoth crowd at yesterday’s 11-race programme rented the air, as Sugar Mike went alongside Top Of The Class at the 300 metre marker - race on. But in a few swift strides, Sugar Mike put the three-year-old in his class as he streaked home. There was no disgrace for The Student who finished a clear six lengths ahead of another American-bred horse in second place, Phantom Bidder. Returning to the paddock, Harding said he won easier than he first thought. And an elated Mike, as Bertwin Samlalsingh is fondly called said, “We are happy the horse (Sugar Mike) won.  It was just a matter of time. “Now we will give him a rest.  My aim is to take home to Barbados for the Gold Cup there.” Sugar Mike was winning for the ninth time in 10 races, and joined the elite band of horses to score the Stewards Cup/Gold Cup double. Trini To D Bone left the large crowd spellbound with a devastating stretch run to take the Guardian Life St Ann’s Stakes for two-year-old fillies. It was a last to first swoop for the winner who was no where in sight as Dealer’s Choice cut out the early running and looked all over a winner until shortening in the final 100 metres as Trini To D Bone flashed past for a two-length triumph under Panamanian rider Rojidan Ramirez.

But favourite Pave The Way showed his class in winning the Guardian Life St James Stakes for the colts and geldings. After Salsa Moves showed some blistering pace, Pave The Way was brought to challenge 300 metres out and he went on to win from a fast-finishing Mucho Tempo, an early backmarker, while Salsa Moves held on for third with Privilege fourth. Visiting veteran British jockey George Duffield landed Due Dilligence winner of the Top Hat event the second on the day’s programme, but Canadian rider Dino Luciani could manage only two fourth placings. Harding was the star jockey of the day landing three winners, while Nobel Abrego had two. Grant Lourenco saddled three winners, Sugar Mike in the feature and Pave The Way in the Guardian Life St James Stakes, along with Fantastic Story. Despite the massive Boing Day crowd, however, the ARC handle for the day was approximately  $1.9 million, falling short of surpassing last year’s record turnover because of the refund of $73,000 on French Academy who was withdrawn from the St Ann’s.