‘The Phantom’ ready for Cup

TRAINER John O’Brien has managed to supply the winner of the Sagicor Independence Cup on three occasions in the last four years and Phantom Bidder can boost his record by taking the latest edition at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, today. “The Phantom”  has played bridesmaid to Millenium Reign and Sugar Mike in his last two starts, but the improving sort is now better off at the weights with the latter, expected to be installed favourite. And the American-bred three-year-old looks  as good a bet as any and better than many in this competitive 1850 turf event, flavoured with Barbadian invaders Lion Country, Feet On Flames and Hard Dancer.

The “foreigners” have not done anything exciting on the gallops since their arrival here a week ago to warrant serious consideration. Added to which, like in the past, the time frame for their preparation and adaptation to the anti-clockwise course has proven insufficient for such a tough assignment as today’s staying event which carries a purse of $200,00. Phantom Bidder has become the standard bearer in graded events over both courses for the champion trainer. The son of Indian Charlie ran a sound race when in receipt of 1.5 kilos from Sugar Mike in the President’s Cup and was only tapped for toes in the latter part of the 1900 metres contest. He has been doing well up on the gallops since and has shown a likeness for the grass in his first try, it would be no surprise to see him bounce back to winning ways here.

Topweight Sugar Mike is a class act and will be the target for all in the 13-horse field. The Bertwin Samlalsingh-owned four-year-old colt won with a ton in hand last time to register  his fourth victory this term from five starts. That sequence was broken on the grass, where he managed fourth behind Out-swinger, Dottie’s Way and Invincibility, a trio he again has to contend with and that is cause for concern. While it may be said that he was not fully wound up on that occasion and was giving lumps of weight all around, statistics cannot be discarded. Sugar Mike goes into today’s event in immaculate condition from preparations done mostly on the sand and if the Grant Lourenco-trained colt adapts to the change in underfoot conditions he will take some beating. The threesome to have finished ahead of him have all won on grass and at age three can still  improve further and could again finish among the six prizes in the Grade One event,  the penultimate on today’s ten-race programme.