Millenium Reign supreme in ARC feature

MILLENIUM REIGN scored a mild upset, beating stablemate and raging favourite Phantom Bidder in the feature Stakes and Lower Handicap over 1750 metres at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday.

Last year’s Royal Oak Derby winner came with a resolute stretch run to swoop past The Phantom inside the final 200 metres to go on to victory by a clear two and a quarter lengths under a clever ride by Venezuelan jockey Wilmer Galviz. Form was tossed out the window in the previous race for three-year-old maidens over 12509 metres, when Galviz landed Hatrick, winner by half length over Desert Rose and Honey Belle.

Backers of the winner were rewarded with $26.60 and $3.70 on the tote. But biggest trifecta and superfecta dividend came in the 1200 metres run for three-year-old Imported Maidens, won by the quick-stepping Kalyan, the third of Galviz winners on the day’s 10-race programme. With Kalyan returning $12.10 and $4.30 on the tote, the trifecta paid a handsome $939.60, while the superfecta with Outrageous Victory finishing fourth was a whopping $2,479.30. The riding honours on the day were shared by ex-champion jockey Brian Harding and Galviz who both booted home three winners, while apprentice Sheldon Rodrigo guided home two. But no trainer managed to saddle more than one winner, but onece again John O’Brien had the distinction of training the winner of the feature.  In fact he had a one-two.