Phantom Menace looks menacing at gallops

PHANTOM MENACE has not raced hard this season, and seems to be rounding into form in time for his Caribbean Cham-pion Stakes engagement on the Arima Race Club Day 36 programme at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on November 29. Grant Lourenco is noted for bringing his charges right for big assignments and it is always a pointer whenever the gifted and knowledgeable young trainer gets in the saddle of his stars to have a feel of them before forming an opinion. Yesterday was one such occasion, and he must have been pleased with what he got out of  Phantom Menace who matched strides with Undisputed, the other in the dual attack he hopes to upstage Top Of The Class with in the 1800 metres Grade One race for West Indian bred three-year-olds and over.

Working from the 800 marker on the backstretch, the pair worked together as one to post 50.35 second on the clock. Phantom Menace who had the heavier weight looked comfortable throughout and was full of running at the end of the spin. Millenium Reign one of the nine runners to have stood his ground for next Saturday’s spotlight event, which will be simulcast to Woodbine and other tracks in North America, was another to have caught the eye yesterday. The 2002 Royal Oak Derby winner paced over the last 1000 metres of the course and was enjoying the sloppy ground conditions, tugging for his head all the way. Sure Wager must be noted when he gets similar underfoot conditions. This Jack Debideen-trained colt has not run up to his best mark lately but seems to be coming back to his best. The American-bred three-year paced the backstretch and when asked a question from the top of the straight, answered readily to clock 23.35 seconds to the winning post. Other pleasing workouts came from Peace Of Mind (23.41) up the stretch, Articka and Grey Warrior out of the boxes.

Following are gallops recorded yesterday:
400 METRES: Sure Wager - 23.35, good; Peace Of Mind - 23.41, good; Articka - 23.60, good (Boxes); Grey Warrior - 23.78, good (Boxes); Redoubled - 27.47, handily; Aishwarya and Now Or Never - 29.98, pacing; Jay-Low - 29.92, pacing; Twice The Jet - 29.92, pacing; Mister Tick - 27.75, pacing; Daurian - 29.75, pacing.
600 METES: Cat Woman - 40.72, handily; Smart And Lucky - 42.20, pacing; Ex Koo and El Gringo - 44.75, pacing; Rhythm Divine - 42.00, pacing; Ex Romance and Ex Cabaret - 43.77, pacing; Mucho Tempo - 44.27, pacing; Isle Be There - 42.52, pacing; Return To Glory - 41.50, pacing; Blue Reign - 40.56, handily; Evil Kneevle and Private Affair - 38.36, handily (Boxes); French Academy, Green Light, Eauro Star and Takeover - 41.09, easy (Boxes).
800 METRES: Phantom Manace and Undisputed - 50.35, good; Over And Above - 55.07, handilt; .Le Fabulex Dancer - 50.59, good; Alamanamou - 59.99, pacing; Explosive Suzie - 52.53, handily; Angelino and Tuzami - 58.27, pacing; Principle - 29.97, pacing; Van Lou - 58.43, pacng; Danzc With Class - 55.09, handily; Super Grey - 59.91, pacing; Rocket Booster - 59.98, pacing; Final Set - 59.00, pacing; Pave The Way - 55.95, pacing; Ocean Surf and Alert The Ship - 57.52, pacing; Caribbean Kiss and Ex Tiyana - 57.01, pacing; Xian - 53.55, handily.
1000 METRES: Outswinger - 1:14.99, pacing; Magen - 1:07.94, handily; Selah Boy, Skye Skipper and Fortunate Flag - 1:11.86, pacing; Millenium Reign - 1:12.09, pacing.
1200 METRES: Highness - 1:28.98, pacing; Seaham Harbour - 1:26,20, pacing.