Play mas‘ with Carnival Messiah

CARNIVAL MESSIAH so impressive when making all the running over 1750 metres against the top bracket last raceday, can return to Santa Rosa Park, Arima, and repeat in the Stakes And Lower Handicap on the Arima Race Club Day 35 card today.

The son of Freshly Squeezed/Lady Of The Moment won unchallenged by five and a half lengths from Outswinger with Phantom Bidder a further one and a half length in third. The 2001 triple crown winner completed the run in one minute 48.77 seconds, which would have been a  new course record had the event not been hand-timed. It would have erased the electronically timed 1:49 posted by Da Vinci eight years ago. Punters may have been flattered by the ease of that success, since the five-year-old wasn’t able to measure up against the same company earlier in the season. But Carnival Messiah had done all that was asked of him on the gallops since trainer Glenn Mendez has tapped into his speed, and he can show that his last performance was no fluke by stepping up to the highest league to trounce his four rivals in today’s feature over 1300 metres on the main course.

But it will not be easy since he will be reverting in distance to compete against a number of tried and tested customers, among which is likely “Horse Of The Year” Sugar Mike. But Carnival Messiah has never been in better niche and can again use his light impost of 47.5 kilos, less the allowance of apprentice rider Gary Laban to silence the big guns ranged against him in the extended sprint. Phantom Bidder was beaten by our top choice last time, but the Nazir Ahamad-owned colt who is clearly coming back to his best and enjoying a steep drop in the weights, should run well too. But Sugar Mike has not been beaten on the sand in six starts this season. Grant Lourenco’s inmate has shown that he has the necessary speed to track the early pace and although he is burdened with the top impost of 60.5 kilos cannot be underestimated. Cash Wager has not raced since scoring in last year’s Stewards Cup. The injury-prone son of Valid Wager is high up in the weights and cannot be considered a serious contender coming off such a long lay off.

Smooth Operator has made his mark on the turf. He has not measured up to this group on the sand, and today should be no different. Invincibility, who could have been the fly in the ointment has been experiencing problems and was taken out of the event. Punters will have a chance to gauge a rider for the future with that of the present in two races on the ten-race card. Set to make his debut on the programme is Joshua Stephen, one of three riders granted official licences by the Trinidad and Tobago Racing Authority earlier this week. The 16-year-old son of trainer Grant Lourenco will have his first taste of competition on Indian Decision in the Optional Claiming $14,000 event (Race 7), before he partners Yaa Asantewaa in the final event.