Record run by Smart And Lucky

SMART AND LUCKY proved just too smart for his  six  rivals, smashing the course record for the second time in as many starts in winning the feature Starter Allowance at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday.

Cleverly ridden by Venezuelan Wilmer Galviz, the three-year-old son of Dance Bright/Rare Indication was kept in third most of the 1100 metres on the turf course behind leader Bandinthong and Song Of Freedom. But when given his head 100 metres out, Jean Khan’s chestnut colt mowed down the two in front of him in clocking 1:03.02 seconds to erase the previous mark of 1:04 seconds he set in October last year.

Bandinthong weakened into third, but Song Of Freedom plugged on valiantly to keep second money. Pave The Way showed his St James Stakes triumph was no fluke when he cruised to an emphatic six-length victory over his three-year-old peers over 1350 metres under champion jockey Brian Harding. Always close up, Harding pushed his mount into the lead 400 metres out and he strode away elegantly, leaving smart and consistent filly Melanie My Love in his wake. Privilege ran on to get second with Second Chances showing improved form getting fourth.

Early leader Java Takeover faded badly when passed by the top four 600 metres out,  and finished at the back of the seven-horse field. There was a resounding upset in $20,000 to $16,000 Optional Claiming over 1750 metres when Bon Voyage got home by a short head to reward backers with a tote payout of $78.00 and $13.60, and with Naturelly Classy, Squee Zintru and Super Grey following the six-year-old gelding home, the trifecta - $5,721.80 and superfecta - $8,180.20 were the best of the day of moderate dividends otherwise.

Euro Star made his second racetrack experience a winning one, beating the three-year-old West Indies-bred maidens over 1100 metres, to make John O’Brien the leading trainer of the day, saddling two winners. But honours were shared among Harding, Panamanian rider Nobel Abrego and champion apprentice Sheldon Rodrigo who landed two winners apiece. Next raceday is February 7, when the feature will be the Imported Three-year-old Sprint Stakes over 1350 metres with a purse of $50,000.