Sugar Mike looks a nap at Santa Rosa

SUGAR MIKE missed out on a run in the Champagne Stakes last month but can gain compensation in the Handicap 2 and Lower feature on the Arima Race Club Day 14 card at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, today. Connections regard the four-year-old as a possible for the Indian Arrival Turf Handicap, and are using today’s 1200 metres dash as a pipe opener for the son of  Ponche/No Sugar for month end’s  longer grind. Grant Lourenco’s charge had campaigned at Calder Park Race Course before his arrival here last term.

And he has not disappointed connections, showing versatility first in the Stewards Cup, where he finished third behind Cash Wager and Napoleon and then over 2000 metres in the Gold Cup where he filled the runner-up spot behind Adawar. Sugar Mike was then given some time off and made his seasonal debut in March this year. He found none of the horses in that Allowance event had the class to match him, and won with a resolute run up the stretch where he picked off the majority of the field in the 1100 metres contest under apprentice Kumar Bissoon.

This victory had some controversy however, as he was later disqualified only to be reinstated following an appeal to the Trinidad and Tobago Racing Authority. Sugar Mike was then entered for the Union Park Turf Club Champagne Stakes last month but was withdrawn by connections who felt the turf track was too hard to risk their star. He faces off against four runners in today’s sprint, with the most serious  rival being Gold Master whom he accounted for earlier this year.

Gold Master has come on since that defeat, having advertised that form by beating Sugar Mike’s stable companion Song Of Freedom last time, but should fight out the runner-up spot with Man Of Class. Royal Flush looks the one to be on in the 1750 metres handicap for three-year-olds. The Anthony Serville-trained gelding was given too much to do by apprentice rider Richard Parsad in the UPTC Easter Guineas, but still managed to finish runner-up to 12-length winner Top Of The Class.

His rider would have learnt by his mistake and should dictate the pace and stay out the trip stoutly. The West Indian-bred three-year-old maiden event is the teaser on the nine-race programme. Among the field are a number of improving individuals vying to gain points for the two remaining classics, which should guarantee a true run race. Loud Music has shown plenty of ability both in his races and at exercise gallops and it could pay to back the gelded son of Native Idol in the 1100 metres sprint. Dottie’s Way was ridden with too much confidence. He was swallowed up late and could get back to winning ways in the penultimate event of the day.