Khan’s string one to watch

Trainer Shaffique Khan has his runners in tip-top shape at present and an eye must be kept on them when racing resumes on January 31. The evidence of his string being in fine fettle was clear on the gallops course at Santa Rosa Park, Arima on Tuesday morning, when he used the otherwise dull morning to breeze some of his charges. Senor Gucci has been knocking on the door since making his debut at the back end of last season. The three-year-old Ameri-can bred, which has  occupied the bridesmaid position in his first three starts showed that he is improving with time.

The son of Way West/Grand Old Song always takes nicely to his work, but  went exceptionally well in his solo run over 1000 metres, posting 59.83 seconds to best the times over the distance. What was amazing about the run was his rider was never hard on him in the spin. Alibi Iki and Mir On Fire were other members of the barn to catch the eye. The pair went at a brisk pace before opening their trottles from the 800-metres marker in the backstretch to the winning line in 49.27 seconds. Their run was, however, overshadowed by the Glenn Mendez-trained pair of American bred three-year-olds Golden Grades and Daredevil Hero, who went slightly better in posting 49.02 seconds. Cotonou was the other to have worked with zest. The Edmund De Freitas inmate maintained a steady clip over the last 1200 metres of the the main course ending in 1:18.73 seconds. Yesterday morning, trainers chose to remain on easy street with only Miss Lover Lover, Born To Charm and Magen doing anything of consequence.
Following are the gallops recorded over both days.

YESTERDAY: 400 METRES: Sunset - 29.17, pacing; Super Grey - 29.92, pacing; Skye Skipper - 29.31, pacing; Chief Commander - 29.98, pacing; E-Mail and Crackshot - 28.90, pacing; Trini To D Bone - 29.92, pacing; Arumur - 29.99, pacing; Smart And Lucky - 28.97, pacing; Massoud - 29.92, pacing; Fabulous Risk - 29.79, pacing; Euro Star - 28.78, pacing.
600 METRES: Bon Voyage - 38.96, handily; Undercover Angel - 38.96, handily; Fantastic Story - 44.09, pacing; Kato - 44.98, pacing; Lovetillidie - and Native Love - 44.96, pacing; Damon Ronwin - 44.92, pacing; Commanchero - 44.43, pacing; Sold Gold - 44.99, pacing;.
800 METRES: Born To Charm - 50.67, good; Ashwarya - 59.99, pacing; Privilege - 59.97, pacing; Ichiban - 59.91, pacing.
1000 METRES: Miss Lover Lover - 1:06.67; handily; Magen - 1:08.74, handily; Running Trick - 1:10.95 pacing; Bound To Dot Com - 1:14.93, pacing.  
TUESDAY: 400 METRES: Fabulous Risk - 29.98, pacing; Groomsman - 28.99, pacing; Billy Button - 29.02, pacing; E-Mail and Crackshot - 27.25, handily; Native Love - 29.96, pacing; Bon Voyage - 29.91, pacing.
600 METRES: Aishwarya - 44.99, pacing.
800 METRES: Golden Grades and Daredevil Hero - 49.02, good; Alibi Iki and Mir On Fire - 49.27, good; Blue Reign - 55.28, pacing; Kato - 59.99, pacing; Sweet N’Beautiful - 54.61, handily.
1000 METRES: Senor Guccia - 59.83, good; Java Takeover - 1:07.44, handily; Born To Charm - 1:14.99, pacing.
1200 METRES: Cotonou - 1:18.73, good.