Tactical Bid lands ‘Friday Lime’ feature

TACTICAL BID made light of his six rivals to win the feature Mr Solo Restricted Handicap at the Arima Race Club “Friday Lime” at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday. Jockey Brian Harding broke the Cyril “Greypatch” Arneaud-trained filly smartly in the 1300 metres event, but allowed Bajan Connection to go by after 200 metres. The Russell Ramsammy-owned filly took over again 400 metres out and after that it was all over bar the shouting, as Harding only had to use hand and knees to get her home a comfortable three-and-a-half-length winner. Groomsman, winner of the 1999 Royal Oak Derby, returned to form to land the Intense Too Optional Claiming over 1300 metres under the urging of Panamanian jockey Nobel Abrego. Speedy Crimson Tower opened her local account with a smooth victory in the day’s opener, the Roughneck Handicap over 1150 metres, while My Aphrodite came with a resolute stretch run under the strong driving of Haniff Emamalie to shed her maiden tag, winning the Matrix Conditional Maidens event over 1200 metres. Victory for Emamalie, president of the Jockey’s Association, gave him his 300th career winning ride. Yesterday’s seven-race programme, the second Friday Lime this year, was co-sponsored by Carib and featured all races named after powerboats in the Carib Great Race scheduled for August 23. Both Harding and Abrego booted home doubles on a day which could have been called Favourites Day as six of the seven events were won by favourites, with  the lone surprise win coming in the final race won by Super Grey. As a result, tote, trifecta and superfecta dividends were moderate throughout the day.