Isle Be There and A Firm Relief handed topweights

A FIRM RELIEF and Isle Be There were handed the topweight of 56.5 kilos for the two handicaps framed on the Arima Race Club Day 24 card at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Saturday.

Isle Be There will tote his burden over 1750 metres against nine rivals on the main course, while A Firm Relief was allotted the identical weight for an 1100 metres race on the turf course. In the staying event, framed as one of the prep races for next month’s Royal Oak Derby, the John O’Brien inmate will hand out as little as 1.5 kilos to stablemate and chief  rival Due Dilligence, and as much as 12 kilos to debutant Dunsborough. Undisputed and Affirm Decision will also be using the staying contest en route to next month’s Blue Riband contest (September 24), where Top Of The Class will be seeking to become the second triple crown winner since racing was centralised at Santa Rosa Park in 1994. First to accomplish the elusive feat was stablemate Carnival Messiah, who was successful in 2001 for owner Wilma Primus and trainer Glenn Mendez.

The two heavy weights on Saturday who  have accumulated sufficient points to be among the starting line-up in the final leg of the triple crown series follows closely in at the weights, by Undisputed who is conditioned by Grant Lourence and races in the colours of Junior Sammy. Undisputed will take along 53.5 in his saddle bag, with Anthony Serville’s runner, Affirm Decision weighing in at 52.5 kilos. Super Grey, Sir Vidia, Fresh Mandate and Bound To Dot Com, for whom  subscriptions have been paid for the derby are others testing the waters. The field is completed by Fresh Honey and the unraced Dundborough. A Firm Relief will have 14 West Indian-bred three-year-olds and over runner, which are yet to win three races to contend with in the dash. The Derick Mosca-owned and trained four-year-old colt who finished runner-up to Bandinthong over course and distance on last Friday’s Emanicpation Day programme,  has Beatutful Mind (55.5 kilos), a winner last time out, closest at the weights with Finest Gem (45.5 kilos) bottom of the handicap.

Following are the framed handicap races, runners and weights.
RACE 5: W I BRED 3 Y.O WINNERS & W I BRED 4 Y..O AND OVER NON-WINNERS OF THREE RACES - PURSE $21,000 - 1750 METRES.
(1). Isle Be There - 56.5, (2). Due Dilligence - 55, (.3). Undisputed - 53.5, (4). Affirm Decision - 52.5, (5). Super Grey - 51.5, (6). Sir Vidia - 49.5, (7). Bound To Dot Com - 49.5, (8). Fresh Mandate - 48.5, (9). Fresh Honey - 47.5, (10). Dunsborough - 44.5.

RACE 6: W I BRED 3 Y.O & OVER NON-WINNERS OF THREE RACES - PURSE $19,000 - 1100 METRES (TURF).

(1). A Firm Decison - 56.5, (2). Beautiful Mind - 55.5, (3). Living In Hope - 53.5, (4). Lady Rossie - 53, (5). Mir On Fire - 53, (6). Full Of Promises - 52.5, (7). V For Victory - 52.5, (8). Return To Glory - 51.5, (9). Tribal Place - 51.5, (10). Fuirst Time - 51, (11). Hatrick - 51, (12). Richie Rich - 49.5, (13). Hyarima - 48.5, (14). Fantastic Lad - 47.5, (15). Finest Gem - 45.5.