Phantom Bidder, Sugar Mike drawn close

PHANTOM BIDDER and Sugar Mike the leading fancies to lift Friday’s President’s Cup will line-up as neighbours in the 1900 metres contest, which shares top billing with the Oaks Stakes on the Arima Race Club Day 23 card at Santa Rosa Park, Arima.

The Indian Charlie/Bolina colt who swept all before him this term until his colours were lowered by stable-companion Millenium Reign earlier this month, was drawn to race from the number three slot in the Graded One race yesterday. This staying event will be run off on the main course with all seven runners for whom final subscriptions were paid. Weights were also allotted for both major events, with Sugar Mike, a dominant force in the sprints racing out gate four in the event worth $75,000 in purses. Friday’s race will mark Sugar Mike’s first attempt around two turns since finishing runner-up to Adawar in last year’s Gold Cup. Millenium Reign, who will be going after a hat-trick of wins was drawn in  gate five, and will have leading rider, Venezuelan Wilmer Galviz astride. Dottie’s Way was drawn nearest the rails, while Invincibility, the second entrant of trainer Grant Lourenco, will race from the outside draw.

Carnival Messiah who has found a new lease on life since returning home from a poor stint  in the Unites States, will compete from the number two hole, with Golden Shufleur who will be having his first start for owner-trainer Harold Chadee in gate six. The draw for post positions for the Oaks Stakes told a similar tale with leading contenders Golden Honour, Sweet Tempo and Firestorm drawn close to each other. The trio will line up in gates seven, eight and nine in the 2000 metres event for West Indian-bred three-year-old fillies. The long grind will see Joan Of Arc racing from the window spot with Larry Munoz aboard. Rest of the draw:  2. Wild Life;  3. Cornerstone; 4. Full Of Promises; 5. My Aphrodite; 6. Millenium Dancer; 7. Golden Honour, 8. Sweet Tempo; 9. Firestorm; 10. Reign Of Fire.

Following are the declared runners, weights and jockeys:
PRESIDENT’S CUP (GRADE 1) HANDICAP - W I BRED AND IMPORTED 3 Y.O & OVER - PURSE $75,000 - 1900 METRES.
1. DOTTIE’S WAY 48 R. Thomas; 2. CARNIVAL MESSIAH 46 R. Jadoo; 3. PHANTOM BIDDER 53.5 N. Abrego;  4. SUGAR MIKE 56.5 B. Harding; 5. MILLENIUM REIGN 50.5 W. Galviz; 6. GOLDEN SHUFLEUR 50 L. Munoz; 7. INVINCIBILITY 52 H. Emamalie.

OAKS STAKES - W I BRED 3 Y.O FILLIES - PURSE $75,000 - 2000 METRES.
1. JOAN OF ARC 55 L. Munoz; 2. WILD LIFE 55 R. Freeman; 3. CORNERSTONE 55 N. Abrego; 4. FULL OF PROMISES 55 S. Rodrigo; 5. MY APHRODITE 55 H. Emamalie;  6. MILLENIUM DANCER 55 B. Harding; 7. GOLDEN HONOUR 55 V. Charles; 8. SWEET TEMPO 55 W. Galviz;  9. FIRESTORM 55 R. Jadoo; 10. REIGN OF FIRE 55 J. Arneaud.