Mendez runners sharp at gallops

TRAINER Glenn Mendez chose yesterday to fine-tune runners from his barn for their Boxing Day and New Year’s Day engagements and must have been pleased with the manner in which they all performed on the sloppy ground conditions on the exercise course at Santa Rosa Park, Arima.

The breezing session yesterday can be easily interpreted as their final praparations before the “big day” Boxing Day,  the last day of the Arima Race Club 2003 racing season. Top Of The Class, who racked up a sequence of six wins since capturing the Easter Guineas, continues to look good heading into the Guardian Life Gold Cup. The triple crown-winning son of Freshly Squeezed/Crescendo, who will face off against Sugar Mike in the 2000 metres spotlight event, sharpened up  in company with Carnival Messiah, clocking 47.36 seconds for their run over 800 metres.

Although the pair flashed past the post together, apprentice Gary Laban had Top Of The Class under wraps on the inside, restraining the top money spinner this season from doing more than was required. You’ve Got Mail and Squeezed Moment signalled that the leading stable this season will be firing on all cylinders on the Guardian Holdings Limited- sponsored card, and the First Citizens’ programme which will open the 2004 season on New Year’s Day. The pair quickened from the 800 metres on the backstretch and stuck together to the winning line in 47.78 seconds.

Sure Ting did not have company to keep her focused, but the three-year-old American-bred filly stepped lively over the last 1000 metres of the course in 59.40 seconds, which proved best for the distance on the morning. Also seen out over the the same trip from the leading stable were Bonus Point and Tricky Guy, who completed their spin in 1:04.40 seconds. And Second Chances and Space Cadet completed the trip in 1:05.02 seconds, while Beautiful Mind was timed in 1:04.28 seconds.

Following are gallops recorded yesterday:
400 METRES: Creme Caramel - 29.97, pacing; Pure Delight - 28.98, pacing; Female Bandit - 29.93, pacing; Lady Banker - 29.18, pacing; Lantern Lady - 29.31, pacing.

600 METRES: Commanchero - 44.93, pacing; Damon Rowing - 43.55, pacing; Mandela - 42.77, pacing.

800 METRES: Top Of The Class and Carnival Messiah - 47.36, good; You’ve Got Mail and Squeezed Moment - 47.78 good; Xian - 58.34, pacing; Bound To Dot Com - 59.92, pacing.

1000 METRES: Sure Ting - 59.40, good; Bonus Point and Tricky Guy - 1:04.40, handily; Renaissance Man - 1:08.53; Second Chances and Space Cadet - 1:05.02, handily; Beautiful Mind - 1:04.28, handily.