Top Of The Class takes a vacation

AFTER some exciting races at the back end of the 2003 racing season and the beginning of the new which began on New Year’s Day, trainers have chosen to go light with  their runners, while some have given their stars a well deserved rest from action.

Enjoying the latter is Top Of The Class, who started his career as a three-year-old and has done all that was required of him in his first season. The son of Freshly Squeezed/Crescendo who captured last year’s triple crown and went on to bank a $1 million bonus from Colonial Life Insurance Company when he added the Champion Stakes to his resume, has been given a five-week vacation.

Glenn Mendez who conditioned the chestnut colt to all his successes has also chosen to take a break from racing, and is currently enjoying a one-week vacation in neighbouring Barbados. Before departure he said, “Top Of The Class has enjoyed his racing and had made everyone happy.” He disclosed that the illustrious son of the soil who racked up six consecutive wins before the sequence was broken by the American-bred Sugar Mike in the Guardian Gold Cup, raced with a split hoof in his latter races. “He will enjoy a relaxing period at the Humming Bird Stable. It will give him sufficient time to heal before he resumes his career.”

While the possible “Horse of the Year” enjoys his rest, trainers have chosen to taking things light with their charges,  refreshing them for when racing resumes on January 17. But while the lull in activities was apparent on the exercise course at racing headquarters at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, a number of horses were noted stepping up their pace. Among them were Selah Boy, who showed spark over 1000 metres in 1:01.02 on Sunday morning. Also looking good the same morning were Alert The Ship and Kato, who covered 800 metres in 50.68 seconds, and Francesca who came to life in her 600 metres spin in 36.75 seconds.

Following are gallops recorded:
YESTERDAY: 400 METRES: Golden Grades - 29.94, pacing; Golden Boy - 29.99, pacing; You’ve Got Mail - 29.98, pacing; Native Love - 29.93, pacing; Blue Reign - 28.99, pacing; Shezabute - 28.96, pacing; Sweet N’Beautiful - 29.17, pacing; Copy Cat - 29.03, pacing.
600 METRES: Carefree and Golden Eye - 44.96, pacing; Fresh Mandate and Comanchero - 43.58, pacing; Entertainer - 41.98, pacing; Premier Account - 44.97, pacing.
800 METRES: Strawberry Hill and Give Me Something - 59.43, pacing; Return To Glosy - 52.15, handily.
1200 METRES: Senor Gucci - 1:29.99, pacing; Perfect Gem - 1:20.84, easy (Boxes).
SUNDAY: 400 METRES: Phenomenon - 29.88, pacing; Silver Bullet - 29.93, pacing; Skye Skipper - 25.01, easy. Our Impulse - 29.59, pacing; Saratone - 25.48, handily; A New Song - 28.00, pacing; Bound To Fly - 29.93, pacing; Golden Grades - 27.77, pacing; Kazai and Getting Something - 29.99, pacing;  Determinator - 29.92, pacing; Crimson Tower - 28.68, pacing; Richie Rich - 27.73, pacing.
600 METRES: The Chariman - 39.33, handily; Francesca - 36.75, good; Ballybunion - 38.28, handily; Once In A Lifetime - 38.05, handily; Final Set - 37.87, handily; Kalyan - 43.66, pacing; Fortunate Flag - 40.65, handily; Never Ever Worrie - 40.80, handily; Bank Account, Be My Hero and Law Of The Lords - 41.44, handily; French Academy - 43.73, pacing; Alamanamou and Rocket Booster - 40.68, handily.
800 METRES: Alert The Ship and Kato - 50.68, good; Sure Honey - 55.05, handily; Cat Woman - 54.78, handily; Ring Dang Do - 52.03, handily; Full Of Promises and Perfect Gem - 53.95, handily; Tricky Guy - 56.55, pacing; Toronto Star - 53.65, easy; Ex Island Chimes and Private Affair - 51.18, handily (Boxes); Ex-Iador, Saucy Wow and Yashoda - 54.48, handily.
1000 METRES: Selah Boy - 1:01.02, good; Super Grey - 1:08.80, handily; City Of Lights - 1:12.64, pacing; Samana Song and Hearts On Fire - 1:10.00, handily.
1200 METRES: Miss Beautiful - 1:24.77, pacing.