He was a Smooth Operator at Santa Rosa

SMOOTH OPERATOR glided to an emphatic victory in the feature Handicap 1 and Lower event on Day 22 of the Arima Race Club season at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday.

Always going smoothly behind pre-race favourite Song Of Freedom, jockey Jody Arneaud asked his mount for his effort 300 metres out and he quickly swept past the leader and galloped on resolutely for a three and a quarter success. Song Of Freedom suddenly quit when tackled by the winner, and struggled in fourth. Later trainer Grant Lourenco said his charge “just did not handle the going.” With Song Of Freedom beaten, owner-trainer Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj who had seven runners in the nine-horse field led in a 1-2-3, with Mandela finishing second and Man Of Class third. This came on the heels of a 1-2-3-4 in the day’s opener for two-year-olds in which Maharaj had seven of eight runners, and with his lone rival Shear Magic scratched. In this 900 metres race for the “babes,” three horses, Salsa Moves, Music Man and Java Takeover were late withdrawals, and bets on the trio were refunded.

The day’s riding honours fell to Venezuelan jockey Wilmer Galviz who landed four winners to take over the leadership in the race for this year’s Jockeys Championship.  He has a total of 28, one more than Ricky Jadoo who had a blank day yesterday.  Maharaj was the only trainer to saddle a double yesterday. Favourites took a heavy beating on the day’s 10-race programme, with the biggest shocker coming in the seventh race, a handicap for three-year-olds and over West Insdies bred horses. Lady Rossie gave trainer Terrence Bates one of his rare victories and rewarded backers with $25.90 and $4.70 on the tote. Another surprise winner Ruby Rich gave backers $24.00 and $8.00 on their tote. But the biggest tirfecta dividend of $2,122.20 was paid on the Smooth Operator, Mandela, Man Of Class combination, and with Song Of Freedom fourth, the superfecta of $3,165.60 was also the best yesterday.