Top Of The Class robbed Clasico run

CONNECTIONS of  Top Of  The Class feel that the lengthy period over which the Triple Crown series is framed has robbed them a chance to challenge for  the Clasico Interna-cional Del Caribe.

Merlin Samlalsingh and Rupert Leong Poi, joint owners of  the son of Freshly Squeezed/ Crescendo vented their feelings in the winners’ enclosure at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Wednesday, after the chestnut colt strode to an emphatic 13-length victory to add the Royal Oak Derby to the Easter Guineas and Midsummer Classic and complete the Triple Crown feat. Samlalsingh expressed the belief the Triple Crown series should be framed over a four-month period. He suggested, the Easter Guineas be run off in April, the Misummer Classic in May, and the Derby in July. The Champion Stakes, he said, can then be brought forward from its November date to allow our champions a crack at the Clasico in early December. Leong Poi harped on the breeding industry and said he believes it is on the up. He said: “A lot of good broodmares were imported. We will soon be producing better horses and will acquit ourselves well  in the Clasico.”

Leong Poi is convinced Top Of The Class would have been an ideal candidate for this year’s race in Puerto Rico. And he went on to join racing partner Samlalsingh in clamaouring for the rescheduling of the local classics which he said becomes necessary if we are to compete successfully in the Clasico Del Caribe. On Republic Day, Wednesday, Top Of The Class emulated Carnival Messiah who was also trained by Glenn Mendez in landing  the treble. And he became only the second three-year-old to accomplish  the prestigious feat since local racing was centralised at the Arima facility in 1999, and also put Mendez into local racing history, making him the first ever trainer to saddle two Triple Crown winners. The Royal Oak Derby victory by Top Of The Class, unchallenged and in course record time, placed connections in an awkward position, leaving them to decide whether to take on  the Caribbean Champion Stakes on November 29 and pass up the $750,000 CLICO bonus or challenge for the Clasico in Puerto Rico on December 7. And they have decided against making the trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, because the Clasico comes to close to the Champions Stakes.

Winning  the Triple Crown saw Top Of The Class connections pocket a $250,000 CLICO bonus, the first portion of a $1 million incentive package by the insurance giants. Braveheart and Tempest were Trinidad and Tobago’s last representatives in the Clasico. This pair finished sixth and 12th when the invitational event was staged here  on November 28, 1998, when the 1800 metres event was won by Venezuelan runner High Security only for the race to be awarded to Panamanian entrant Evaristo after an objection.