Bajan horses here for ARC races

A STRONG contingent of 13 horses will be arriving from Barbados to compete for rich purses at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, next month. Three from the lot will compete in the Sagicor Independence Cup on September 1, and a similar number have had subscriptions paid for the Royal Oak Derby on September 24. Bajan trainer Jean Marc Cozier who will be responsible for conditioning Lion Country in the earlier of the two races arrived here to supervise preparations. He was seen early yesterday morning organising clearance for himself and his runners at the Trinidad and Tobago Racing Authority.

He said five horses were expected in yesterday and another eight runners will be flying over on Friday. Among the early arrivals were Lion Country and Royal Red, whom he will be supervising for trainer Naz Issa, who is  hospitalised. Robin Jaisingh an Arima Race Club handicapper who flew to Barbados last month to entice owners to participate in next month’s graded races confirmed yesterday, that the Bajan five-horse vanguard arrived and said they have taken up stables at the quarantine faclities adjacent to the race track in Arima. Arriving yesterday were Royal Red, fourth placed finisher in the Barbados Derby; Lion Country who will be in  the Sagicor Independence Cup line-up; Not Another Noble, a gelded American-bred three-year-old consigned to trainer Glenn Mendez; Native Love, a returning Trinidad and Tobago-bred who will race under Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj; and A Rumur, another West Indian-bred who will be joining the Anthony Serville stable.

Among those expected on Friday are other Sagicor Independence Cup runners Feet On Flames and Hard Dancer, Victoria Lea and Geisha Girl, and Royal Oak Derby entrants Ginger Beer and Sweet Dreams. The arrival of  the three Barbadian runners for the Independence Cup will be good news for owners. With a three-tier purse structure put in place by the sponsors, their participation in the 1850 metres turf event guarantees a total purse of $200,000. Should only one invader compete the purse will be cut in half, and with neither participating the purse reamains at $75,000.