Big test for Top Of The Class

TOP OF THE CLASS will have his biggest test to date when he lines up in today’s Allowance feature on the Arima Race Club Day 26 card at Santa Rosa Park, Arima. The field is rich in talent with both speed and staying power which guarantees an exciting finish. Among the seven-horse field, apart from the aspiring superstar, there are two previous derby winners in Millenium Reign and Carnival Messiah, and the “Iron Horse” Chanticleer, which also holds the record for the most wins on the circuit and closing in on $1 million in earnings. Top Of The Class was a revelation in the Easter Guineas and Midsummer Classic, the first two legs of  this year’s triple crown. The Glenn Mendez-trained colt is bordering on superstar status after winning both classics against his peers by widening margins, and is expected to head the market.

In both classics the three-year-old looked very smart. But it won’t be as easy today since the small but selective field has some tried and tested older horses, which promise to make things uneasy for the youngster. This outing is being used as a preparatory gallop for Top Of The Class before his attempt at history in next month’s Royal Oak Derby, the final leg of the triple crown. The game son of Freshly Squeezed has a good attitude to racing, and the likely superstar whose front-running style has not yet been found vulnerable is expected to pass the stiff test with flying colours. Mendez goes into the event with a back-up in Carnival Messiah who did the “triple” two years ago. He is expected to be in the thick of things vying for the top spoils in the $26,000 event.

The Messiah who returned home after a disappointing spell in the United States, has been enjoying a good season and should  not be overlooked. Chanticleer has long been a local favourite, with 25 wins to his credit including victories against the top bracket and many rising stars of the past. The “Iron Horse” carries co-topweight of 56.5 kilos and will be re-united with regular rider, Panamanian Nobel Abrego, who has ridden him to victory on numerous occasions. Chanticleer has been seeing lean times recently, but has shown signs of  returning to his best at gallops and with today’s 1750 metres event representing a drop in class should give a good account of himself and would be an ideal animal from which to gauge our classic contenders.

His trainer John O’Brien has a strong hand, which includes Millenium Reign, Bound To Dot Com, a likely runner in next month’s Blue Riband and the consistent Maid Of Honour. The former must come into reckoning for winning last year’s Royal Oak Derby and having outrun the top stayers at home over course and distance in a Stakes and Lower event last month. Bound To Dot Com and Fresh Honey look outclassed, while Maid Of Honour is expected to be used as the pacemaker in an effort to put pressure on Top Of The Class to give his stablemates with staying powers a chance at the finish.