Phantom Menace steals Stud Farm feature

THE old Iron Horse, Chanticleer, will have to wait another day to join that $1 million club. This popular ten-year-old gelding owned by David Ojar, could only finish one from last in yesterday’s feature Stud Farm Association National Stakes over 1800 metres at Santa Rosa Park, Arima. Phantom Menace was brought with a well-timed stretch run to just get his head in front of triple crown winner of two years ago Carnival Messiah in a thrilling finish, with last year’s derby winner Millenium Reign in third.

Punto A Punto led the eight-horse field from the off and set off to make it all, but was struggling at the 600 metres mark when jockey Ricky Jadoo sent the Messiah into the lead. All this time the Iron Horse was in mid-division but definitely going no where, while Millenium Reign who was beaten for early gradually made up ground, but could not catch the first two.  Maid Of Honour also ran well to get fourth. Carnival Messiah led the pack into the stretch and looked all over a winner until rider Jody Arneaud brought Phantom Menace to pounce and steal the winner’s Purse of $36,000. Chanticleer needed to finish first or second to reach the $1 million earnings mark.

Ruby Rich was a shock winner of the Happy Hill “B” Stud Optional Claiming over 1350 metres to reward backers with $20.00 and $5.10 on the tote.
Venezuelan jockey Carlos Marquez riding here for only the second time landed a double on the day’s ten-race programme. Also scoring doubles in the saddle were apprentice Sheldon Rodrigo and Rajpaul Rajkumar, while popular owner-trainer-breeder Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj was the only man to saddle two winners. Dividends were good throughout, but turfites had to wait until the last two races for a superfecta over $1,000. The Phantom Menace, Carnival Messiah, Millenium Reign, Maid of Honour combination rewarded turfites with a $1,086.50 superfecta, while the Lady Rossie, Super Grey, Wild Life, Joan Of Arc quartet paid $1,360.00. Next race day is September 24, when Top Of The Class attempts to emulate stablemate Carnival Messiah in clinching the triple crown by winning the Blue Riband event, the Royal Oak Derby over 2000 metres.