Top Of The Class blitzes Derby field

TOP Of The Class made every metre of the running to score an emphatic 13-length victory in yesterday’s 72nd running of the Royal Oak Derby at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, and became only the second horse to achieve the Triple Crown at the new centralised facility. And when jockey Ricardo Jadoo guided the Freshly Squeezed/Crescendo colt past the post for his second Derby triumph,  he helped trainer Glenn Mendez write his name into local racing history.

Mendez became the first trainer to saddle two triple crown winners, achieving the feat with Carnival Messiah in 2001 and now with Top Of The Class who also smashed the course record with his time of 2:05.48 seconds unchallenged. From the off, Jadoo sent his mount into the lead and it was all over bar the shouting when the chestnut colt was asked to go on 600 metres out in the 2000 metres race. At the end, an elated joint owner Rupert Leong Poi said: “This is beyond reality. I am very happy. Words cannot describe my feelings now.” And Jadoo noted: “I was always going easily and never pressed my horse.” And he predicted: Top Of The Class will win the Champion Stakes. Victory yesterday, apart from giving  owners Leong Poi and Merlin Samlalsingh the winner’s purse of $120,000, also see them collecting the CLICO bonus prize of $250,000. And should Top Of The Class goes on to win the Champions Stakes, then he will earn for his connections the CLICO $1 million bonus.

The race was a good one for Mendez who also saddled runner-up Celebration Time and Sweet Tempo who was awarded fourth place after Due Dilligence was disqualified. Sugar Mike confirmed he was the best horse in training when he showed awesome power in the straight to sprint away from his seven rivals in winning the Diamond Stakes Handicap over 1350 metres in record time — 1:19 seconds under a clever ride by Brian Harding. The trailer early on, Harding sent his mount smoothly into the lead 300 metres out and he strode to victory by four-and-a-half lengths. Early leader Movietowne Magic bolted 600 metres out and finished last. Young rider Naim Samaroo brought Melanie My Love with a well-timed stretch run to take the 51st running of the Nursery Stakes for two-year-olds over 1200 metres to deprive her better fancied stablemate Java In Style to give owner-trainer Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj a one-two finish. But a big disappointment in this event was favourite Java Takeover who finished down the field after holding a prominent position early. Despite seeing Beautiful Mind disqualified, Mendez shared top billing among trainers with Stephen Jardim, both saddling two winners each. And apprentice Sheldon Rodrigo shared riding honours with Jadoo landing two winners each. The day’s total handle reached $1.7 million, with $279,000 wagered on the Derby alone.  The take was $1 million more than last year’s programme.