‘The Class’ leaves railbirds spellbound

EVERYTIME the Royal Oak Derby comes around it brings along a feeling of renewed interest in the sport of horseracing and yesterday was no exception at the gallops at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, where a number of fresh faces were seen out. And those putting in appearances must have left pleased with what they saw and are sure to spread a good word on the upward direction in which racing is heading, after seeing some of the entrants for the Blue Riband event going through their paces ahead of next week Wednesday’s battle. Their timing could have been more appropiate since they were privy to one of the most scintillating workouts ever by a locally-bred racehorse on the sand course at racing headquarters.

The one winning accolades on the morning was none other than Top Of The Class. The Easter Guineas and Midsummer Classic winner, who will be seeking this year’s triple crown and the $250,000 bonus put up by CLICO for achieving the feat was awesome. The son of Freshly Squeezed working the last 1000 metres of the course clocking a fiery 58.77 seconds with raceday rider Ricardo Jadoo aboard. The Glenn Mendez inmate skipped though his assignment at Stewards Cup pace, posting fractions of 11.23, 23.36, 35.02, 46.93 before completing his act. His flashing hooves had tongues wagging in “clockers corner,” leaving one faithful to remark, “the last time such fractions were recorded was when Evaristo had his final blowout before capturing the Clasico.”

Following are gallops recorded yesterrday:
400 METRES: Smart And Lucky and Fabulous Risk — 23.12, good; Royal Red — 23.59, good; Smooth Operator — 24.86, easy; Hassan and Caribbean Kiss — 24.10, good; Outburst — 25.39, handily; Privilege and Runaway Rocket — 27.53, pacing; Sea Spider — 29.43, pacing; Entertainer — 27.20, handily; Ex Narciss Toi — 29.33, pacing; Hold The Fort and Massoud — 29.87, pacing; Undercover Angel — 27.50, handily; Principle — 25.71, handily.
600 METRES: Skye Skipper — 35.90, good; Shezabute — 35.66, ridden out; French Academy, Atlantic Breeze and Jay Low — 35.03, good; Time To Fly, Skylite and El Presidente — 35.33, good; Digital Alarm — 40.36, handily; Tribal Place — 43.63, pacing; Twice A Jet and Lady Secret — 40.61, handily; Red Hill — 39.00, handily; Chief Of Staff — 37.09, ridden out. Miss Emma — 39.02, handily; Trini To The Bone, Alamanamou and Ex Island Chinmes — 37.88, handily; Cotonou — 40.53, handily; Moulin Rouge and Chief Commander — 39.45, handily; Alex — 40.68, ridden out; Soul Asylum - 37.51, handily; Kay Gee Bee — 44.86 pacing; Seductive — 36.89, ridden out; Rebel Music — 43.25, pacing; Zalyan — 38.79, handily; Ex Miss D D Walton and Pyrite Take — 43.17, pacing.
800 METRES: Miss Lover Lover and Kalyan — 47.67, good; Magen — 57.12, pacing; Ring Dang Do — 57.65, pacing; Once In A Lifetime — 52.09, handily; Mary Magdalene — 51.75, handily; Ex Smoothawn — 56.59, pacing; Skippy’s Dream — 58.05, pacing; Francesca — 55.50, pacing; Hatrick — 56.09, pacing; Regent Boy — 56.63, pacing; First Time — 52.64, handily; Royal Flush — 55.73, pacing; Return To Sender — 51.31, handily; Tora Bora and Under Influence — 51.33, handily; Ex Crackajack — 57.48, pacing; Splitting Image — 52.86, handiily; Phantom Bidder - 52.08, handily.
1000 METRES: Top Of The Class — 58.77, impressive; Gold Conveyor — 1:01.70, good; Stormy Season — 1:13.02, pacing; Napoleon — 1:12.73, pacing; Supreme Dancer — 1:06.32, handily; Golden Honour — 1:05.55, handily; Gaza Strip — 1:02.86, good; Undisputed and Invincibility — 1:05.00, handily.;Due Dilligence and Isle Be There — 59.41, good — Due Dilligence better; Lanton Lady — 1:10.38, pacing.
1200 METRES: Outswinger — 1:29.99, pacing; Naturelly Classy and Sweet Dreams — 1:15.87, good.