Eight to challenge ‘The Student’ in ‘Champion’

TOP OF THE CLASS and Celebration Time, the first and second placed finishers in this year’s Royal Oak Derby head a list of nine runners for the Caribbean Champion Stakes at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on September 29.

Connections of  the two leading three-year-olds from top trainer Glenn Mendez’s barn,  were among those for which final subscription fees of  $400 were paid yesterday to be eligible for the 1800 metres event which will highlight the Arima Race Club Day 36 programme. Trainer Mendez, who won this year’s triple crown with Top Of The Class, will go into the event with a three-pronged attack having also paid subscription for Carnival Messiah. The Messiah, who posted a pole-to-pole victory over the top bracket earlier this month, was the first horse to complete the triple crown at Santa Rosa Park.

The son of Freshly Squeezed/Lady Of The Moment won all three classics, the Easter Guineas, Midsummer Classic and Royal Oak Derby three years ago, but failed in  the Champion Stakes which was won by Chanticleer. The “Iron Horse” was among the 12 paying subscriptions at the second stage, but along with stablemates Ichiban and Due Dilligence, have ducked out the Caribbean Champion Stakes. Three other trainers have targeted the West Indian-bred three-year-olds and over race with dual entries. Champion trainer John O’Brien will be respresented by Maid Of Honour and last year’s Royal Oak Derby winner Millenium Reign. Grant Lourenco will pin his hopes on Phantom Menace and Undisputed, while Douglas Bennett will aim for an upset with Super Grey and  Punto A Punto.

The event worth $100,000 will be the major attraction to punters at home and abroad. This race will be simulcast live to Woodbine racecourse in Canada, and will be re-distributed to other North American tracks for wagering. Top Of The Class will be the focus of attention in this stiff contest. The stout-hearted front-running chestnut has already banked a $250,000 bonus from Colonial Life Insurance Company for completing the triple crown. And the Horse of the Year candidate stands to add a further $750,000 for owners Rupert Leong Poi and Merlin Samlalsingh from the insurance giants,  should he romp to another success in the month end event.