Outswinger high on ‘Champagne’

INDEPENDENCE CUP runner-up Outswinger was allotted top impost of 56.5 kilos for the Champagne Stakes, feature of the Arima Race Club Day 4 programme at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Saturday.

The Jack Debideen-trained colt who had two wins, one second and a third place finish from four starts on the turf last season, will face nine rivals in the 1600-metres event on the turf course with a purse of $75,000.

In the extended sprint, the four-year-old gelded son of Candy Stripes has been asked to give away one kilo to Sian’s Gold Sprint Handicap winner Invincibility, and 12 kilos to trainer Jose William-Samaroo’s lightly-raced American-bred three-year-old pair, Pile Of Cash and Gautama. Miss Lover Lover and Phantom Bidder follow closely in at the handicap. “The Lover,” runner-up in last year’s Stewards Cup, and trainer John O’Brien’s stable star “The Phantom” will each take along 54.5 kilos in this Grade Two contest.

Following the quartet on the weights table are intended Sandy Lane Gold Cup runner Le Fabuleux Dansur, and Sure Ting, who were both allotted 48 kilos, while Mandela and Sure Wager were given 46 kilos each. Should the turf course be deemed unsuitable for racing on Saturday, and the race switched to the main course, weights will remain the same.

Following are the entries and weights: OUTSWINGER - 56.5, INVINCIBILITY - 55.5, MISS LOVER LOVER - 54.5, PHANTOM BIDDER - 54.5, LE FABULEUX DANSUR - 48, SURE TING - 48, MANDELA - 46, SURE WAGER - 46, PILE OF CASH - 44.5, GAUTAMA - 44.5.