Royal Flush heads Easter Guineas list

ADORING GROOM STAKES winner Royal Flush is among a list of 20 runners for which final subscriptions were paid to be eligible to race in the Union Park Turf Club Easter Guineas.

Trainer Anthony Serville who trains the son of Time For A Trick/Royal Beauty, the shock winner of the 1750 metres contest could have two runners in this year’s renewal, with Affirm Decison also in the field. Champion trainer John O’Brien with five horses, has the largest number of runners in the 1800 metres contest, representing the first leg of the local triple crown. His string will be headed by Cornerstone, runner-up behind Royal Flush, and Ichiban who was installed favourite only to dissapoint behind the duo in their first run around two turns.

Due Dilligence, Hanniba’s Will, and Isle Be There are the other members of O’Brien’s string for which final subscriptions of $400 were paid in  the Group One event to be run off on Easter Monday (April 21). Trainer Glen Mendez who captured the 2001 edition of the event with triple crown winner Carnival Messiah, have three runners in this year’s renewal. His hopefuls in the West Indian-bred three-year-old classic are Celebration Time, Sweet Tempo and Top Of The Class. The kitty for the opening stanza of the tri-part series closed off with a healthy $42,400. The Champagne Stakes, the turf feature for the top bracket on the Easter holiday card saw eight runners being left in at the final stage of the 1600 metres contest.

Sugar Mike, who was reinstated as winner of the March 27 Allowance feature following an appeal to the Trinidad and Tobago Racing Authority after being disqualified, is among the star-studded line-up. Connections of the American-bred five-year-old forked out $4,800 to be among the elite group, which includes last year’s Gold Cup winner Adawar and new staying sensation Phantom Bidder. Completing the small cast in the event closing off with a total subscription of $18,400 are Carnival Messiah, the first triple crown winner this century, Invincibility, My Son John, Smooth Operator and Sure Ting.

Following are the horses for which subscripions  were paid for the Guinea:
AFFIRM DECISION, CELEBRATION TIME, CORNERSTONE, DARE TO DREAM, DUE DILLIGENCE, FULL OF PROMISES, GOLDEN HONOUR, HANNIBAL’S WILL, ICHIBAN, ISLE BE THERE, NATURELLY CLASSY, PHENOMENON, ROYAL FLUSH, SIR VIDIA, SUPER GREY, SWEET TEMPO, TOP OF THE CLASS, UNDISPUTED, WILD LIFE, YAA ASANTE WAA.