Phantom Bidder looks the part

AFTER a dry spell of 16 days without racing, it  is back to basics in the pursuit of winners today, and Phantom Bidder looks the best bet for turfites  to cure their hangover from some exciting races during the period traditionally known as the Christmas Meeting.

The John O’Brien-trained four-year-old has put together a series of creditable performances last season and an excellent opportunity has been found for him to get his winning act started this term in the Allowance feature on the Arima Race Club Day Two card at Santa Rosa Park, Arima. Phantom Bidder finished third behind Sugar Mike and Top Of The Class on opening day of the current season. He was beaten by 11 lengths by the winner, which is a big gap, but on face-value was not bad since the 2000-metres race was run in record time. Before that he reverted in trip and was again second runner-up to Sugar Mike and Cash Wager.

Previous to those outings Phantom Bidder filled the same position behind Carnival Messiah and Outswinger in a Handicap 1 and Lower event over 1750 metres which was hand-time in 1:49 seconds,  equalling the  record by Da Vinci in 1995. Those runs were on the main course, and are proof  that he is in good niche. Today’s 1725 metres contest on the nine-race card is framed for the Turf, on which he will not be inconvenienced, having recorded a win and a second from three starts on that surface and could well open his winning account this season. Trainer O’Brien could get on the scoresheet earlier with French Academy.

Although his juveniles did not hit their targets last season, French Academy looked a good prospect in the making. The son of Louis Quatorze/Hermosa was turned over on his debut in a tough 1300 metres event at the end of November. He ran moderately but has improved tremendously since. He was heavily backed to win the St James Stakes next time out but refused to enter the stalls and had to be withdrawn. Remedial action has since been taken, and athough he still seems to fear the boxes, he doesn’t stick when he is loaded and with the improvement made from his first racecourse appearance could open his winning account in the 1350 metres three-year-old maiden contest.