Invincibility shocks ‘em in Sian’s Gold

INVINCIBILITY overcame a tardy start to rush past locally-bred sprinter Napoleon to win the feature First Citizens Bank Trophy Sian’s Gold Sprint Handicap at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on FCB Day, yesterday. Not well away in the 110 metres turf event, jockey Haniff Emamalie gingerly cut down his field before swooping in the last 200 metres to score by one and a quarter lengths from the grey “Emperor,” who looked all over a winner entering the stretch run. And  Grant Lourenco also saddled Phanton Menace to take the First Citizens Bank Caribbean Turf Championship, to be the joint top trainer of the day with two winners.

The Menace tracked the early leader Sweet Tempo before taking over 900 metres out, but had to withstand a determined challenge from little-fancied Living In Hope, eventually getting home by a head to land the spoils. Owner-trainer-breeder Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj continued his winning ways when he saddled Java Takeover to win the First Citizens Bank First Classic for West Indies-bred horses just turned three-year-old. Stablemate Sunday Jewel led briefly before Java Takeover scooted into the lead under a skilled ride from Anthony Stephen, back from Macau, and the filly  sprinted to the wire a clear five-length winner. The All Star team of Canadian-based Trinidadian Emile Ramsammy and Patrick Husbands of Barbados, also riding in Canada, easily won the Jockey Championship to share the US$4,000 prize- money. This duo tallied 31 points to beat joint runners-up Trinidad and Tobago (Brian Harding, Ricky Jadoo) and Canada, led by David Clarke, who totalled 19 points each to share US$4,000.

Fourth were Barbados (Chris Griffith, Slade Callaghan) who will share US$1,000; with Panama (Nobel Abrego, Rojidan Ramirez) fifth and Venezuela (Larry Munoz, Wilmer Galviz) next. The day produced several upset winners, the biggest coming when Canadian rider Clarke landed First Time to reward backers with $52.70 and $9.50 on the tote. Coupled with Reign Of Fire, Hatrick and Peace Of Mind, the superfecta dividend was a handsome $4,639.40, biggest of the day. The first three past the post also provided the best trifecta payout of $$1,551.60. Another upset winner from the Maharaj stable, Tea Time Doc, rewarded backers with $33.70 and $6.80 on the tote, with the trifecta dividend paying $$1,417.80, but no turfite managed to get the superfecta combination.