Top Of The Class No 5 in Guardian Gold Cup

TOP OF THE CLASS will race from a central position with regular rider Ricardo Jadoo in The Guardian Gold Cup, feature race on the Arima Race Club’s Boxing Day, December 26, card at Santa Rosa Park, Arima.

The Glenn Mendez-trained colt, who captured this year’s triple crown and banked the Colonial Life Insurance Company $1 million bonus by adding the Caribbean Champion Stakes, will seek glory from the five hole in the 2000 metres Grade One event. This position was selected for the Merlin Samlalsingh/Rupert Leong Poi-owned three-year-old by Mendez at the draw for post positions for the  prestigious event, held yesterday at the Atrium, Guardian Holding Corporate Centre, Guardian Drive, Westmoorings. At the function Douglas Camacho, Executive Director of the insurance firm said it will be the fourth year they will be sponsoring the extremely popular day’s racing. He said: “When Guardian Life took up sponsorship of the event in 2000, racing was heading down hill and we identified a need to assist. “We pictched in because we saw racing as an industry where a number of people directly and indirectly depends on it for a living.”

He went on to state that people associated with his firm are heavily involved in the sport and boasted they also took some of the major prizes over the years. Camacho promised, “Guardian Holdings Limited will continue to be part of the sport.” Arima Race Club president Gerard Ferreira said continued support  from GHL has helped the ARC to turn the corner. “This years event is the jewel in the crown, since it is the most anticipated event of the year.” He then plugged for the breeding industry saying, “ it is a feather in our cap to produce a locally bred horse which can compete at the highest level and against the best in the industry.” Sugar Mike, who has swept all before him on the main course this season, and has positioned himself as a threat to Top Of The Class for “Horse of the Year” honours drew gate nine and will start widest in the race worth $100,000 with regular partner Brian Harding astride. Both crowd favourites are unbeaten in their last six starts. Canaima who has found the going tough in top company since his arrival from Ireland drew the window post in the staying event, and will be followed by the lightly raced Le Fabuleux Dansur.

Outswinger who enjoyed early successes this season but always seems to find one going better in graded events, is set to open gate four. The gelded son of Candy Stripes/Jandi Lee will be sandwiched between Dottie’s Way in gate three on his inside and Top Of The Class on the outer. Trainer John O’Brien is well represented in the event and will be going after the rich purse with Phantom Bidder and Cash Wager. Phantom Bidder who has fallen below expectations after a bright start early in the season, will race out of gate six and his stable companion which could only manage fourth when defending his Steward Cup crown on Saturday last, drew lane eight. Fitting in between the O’Brien pair of runner in gate seven is Morgan Heritage, the runaway winner of an Allowance race on the slop.

Draws were also made for runners in the Guardian Life St James Stakes and the Guardian Life St Anns Stakes, the supporting events on the Guardian Holdings Limited-sponsored card. Pave The Way, Mucho Tempo and Nowornever, the first three to past the post in the Caribbean Juvenile Sprint will renew rivalry in the St James Stakes. This trio drew lanes four, five and two respectively for their Boxing Day encounter over 1350 metres, for which 11 colts and geldings are down to face the starter. The fillies division went one better with entries. In their extended sprint, Skylite, winner of the first two-year-old event this season will start from gate 11. Trainer Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj enters the fray with three runners. His Java Take Over will line up in the second hole, Melanie Samantha in five and Sunday Jewel widest of all in the 12 horse field. Drawn nearest the rails is Skippy’s Dream. This Stephen Jardim-trained filly will be partnered by Canadian rider Deano Luciani, who finished in 10th spot on the Woodbine Jockeys’ Championship which ended recently.

Following are the runners and jockeys for the three feature races:
GUARDIAN GOLD CUP  (GRADE 1) (OPEN) - 2000 METRES -  1. Canaima - W.Galviz, 2. Le Fabuleux Dansur - F.Razack, 3. Dottie’s Way - R.Latchman, 4. Outswinger - L.Munoz, 5. Top Of The Class - R.Jadoo, 6. Phantom Bidder - G.Duffield, 7. Morgan Heritage - L.Keizer, 8. Cash Wager - N.Abrego, 9. Sugar Mike - B.Harding.

GUARDIAN LIFE ST JAMES STAKES - (GRADE 11) - 1350 METRES -
1. Privilege - N.Abrego, 2. Mucho Tempo - W.Galviz, 3. Fast Company - G.Duffield, 4. Pave The Way - B.Harding, 5. Nowornever - H.Emamalie, 6. Second Chances - D.Luciani, 7. Over And Above - R.Jadoo, 8. Majestic - K.Chandler, 9. Mister Hypocrit - R.Persad, 10. Salsa Moves - A.Stephen, 11. Laura’s Boy - L.Keizer.

GUARDIAN LIFE ST ANNS STAKES (GRADE 11) - 1350 METRES -
1. Skippy’s Dream - D.Luciani, 2. Dealer’s Choice - F.Razack, 3. Java Takeover - R.Persad, 4. Return To Sender - R.Jadoo, 5. Seaham Harbour - B.Harding, 6. Trini To D Bone - R.Ramirez, 7. Melanie My Love - A.Stephen, 8. Pure Delight - S.Rodrigo, 9. Bold Woman - K.Jadoo, 10. French Academy - N.Abrego.11. Skylite - W.Galviz, 12. Sunday Jewel - L.Keizer.