Sweet Stewards Cup for Sugar Mike

JOCKEY Brian Harding brought Sugar Mike with a well-timed run inside the final 200 metres to swoop past early leader Miss Lover Lover to land the Betting Levy Board Stewards Cup on a sloppy Santa Rosa Park, Arima, track yesterday. The big American-bred bay colt was kept in the shade of pace-setting Napoleon and “The Lover” for most of the 1200 metres race. And when young rider Navin Mangalee kicked for home after having worn down creole “The Emperor,” and looked all over a winner. But Harding went to work on the Grant Lourenco-trained Sugar Mike and despite his welter 57 kilos he responded sweetly, flashing past Miss Lover Lover to go on to a three-quarter length win in 1:10.62 seconds. Victory yesterday was the sixth in a row for Sugar Mike who was beaten only once this season, and that on the turf course.

The Bertwin Samlalsingh-owned four-year-old took the $60,000 winner’s purse and with it the title of Sprint Champion of the Southern Caribbean. Napoleon held on for third ahead of last year’s winner Cash Wager who finished fourth this time around. On dismount, Harding said he was a little concerned coming around the final bend, but “when he straightened up I hit him a crack he changed legs and that was it.” A very elated trainer Lourenco said: “He (Sugar Mike) is the undisputed heavyweight champion. That (yesterday’s race) was just a dress rehearsal (for the Gold Cup).  The real test is yet to come.” Now turfites are awaiting the Clash of the Year between Sugar Mike and triple crown winner Top Of The Class in the 2000 metres Gold Cup on Boxing Day, December 26. When Laura’s Boy cake-walked the day’s opener, it marked the 11th  time a juvenile owned and trained by Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj was winning this year, bettering his own record ten two-year-old winners in a season. Ballybunion was a surprise winner of the Mares In Foal Incentive Trophy over 1300 metres, and rewarded backers with $23.40 and $4.10 on the tote.

And Golden Honour scored a mild upset in winning the Derek Cozier Memorial Classic Trophy which was moved from the turf to the main track and run over 1750 metres. The filly scooted away from her field under the urging of Mangalee (N)  to land the $36,000 prizemoney for owner Roger Christopher.  Her backers collected $12.00 and $4.70 on the tote. Harding and Panamanian rider Nobel Abrego shared the Jockeys Championship with 20 points each while Harriram Gobin was the top trainer with 20 points. Abrego also got the Bomb $500 prize for being adjudged to have ridden the best race astride Privilege. Apart from the Gold Cup on Boxing Day, there will be the St James Stakes for two-year-old colts and geldings and St Ann’s Stakes for the fillies.