Smart and Lucky going places

SMART AND LUCKY showed he is rounding into a top-class performer and is ready to step up in grade with another awesome display on the gallops at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Sunday. The John O’Brien-trained Canadian colt who showed versatility, recording  victories in both his starts in record time on different ground conditions, went about his work in business-like fashion covering the last 800 metres of the main course in a blistering 46.83
seconds.

The manner in which the Roland Khan-owned three-year-old laid out up the stretch under regular partner Nobel Abrego suggested he has toughened up and could have done even better if asked, and is one to keep an eye on whenever he tackles the top bracket. Gautama has not done anything of note in either of  his starts but is showing a  preference for the turf. This four-year-old importation from trainer Jose-William Samaroo’s  barn had some spring in his step, covering a similar trip on the inner circuit in 48.44 seconds. Phantom Bidder has shown in his most recent starts that he is better suited to the grass.

And the Nazir Ahamad-owned colt confirmed that impression on Sunday morning with a good gallop in 1:00.50 seconds for his solo run over 1000 metres. Phantom Menace and Invincibility were others to have pleased at gallops on the main course. The Grant Lourenco-trained pair stuck together from the 1000 metres marker on the backstretch to the winning line in 1:00.83 seconds. But while the tried and tested pair’s gallop was rated good, it was overshadowed by younger stablemates Pave The Way and Twice Infallible, who went slightly better, clocking 59.89 seconds.

Following are gallops recorded:
YESTERDAY: 400 METRES: Peace Majesty - 29.25, pacing; Female Bandit - 29.88, pacing; Salsa Moves - 29.48, pacing.

600 METRES: Nowornever and This Cat Is Back - 34.92, good; Return To Sender - 35.28, good; Life In The Sky - 36.00, good; Java Takeover - 41.95, pacing.

800 METRES: Game High - 49.09, good; Native Love - 49.81, good; Melanie My Love, Copy Cat and Tea Time Doc - 50.36, good; Love Till I Die - 48.59, good; Beautiful Mind - 49.95, good; Majestic - 53.28, handily.

1000 METRES: Phenomenon - 1:06.17, handily.

SUNDAY: 400 METRES: Music Man - 24.06, good; Miss Lover Lover - 22.81, good; Kato 23.61, good (Boxes); Hassan and Jelenia Gora - 24.89, good (Boxes); Silver Bullet - 29.99, pacing; Cat Woman - 28.78, pacing; Mayaro Breeze - 29.17, pacing; Runaway Rocket and Synergy - 27.20, handily; 2-Sharp and Golden Eye - 26.23, handily.

600 METRES: Saucy Wow and Rebel Music - 36.11, good (Boxes); Yashoda - 37.02, good (Boxes); Punto A Punto - 41.45, easy; French Academy - 39.68, handily; Grey Warrior - 38.85, handily; Running Trick - 38.93, handily; Beautiful Mind - 41.06, handily; Life In The Sky - 38.77, handily; Chief Of Staff and Bajan Connection - 38.61, handily (turf); Moulin Rouge - 39.96, handily (turf).

800 METRES: Fortunate Flag - 49.26, good; Smart And Lucky - 46.83, good; Sure Honey - 50.68, good; Smooth Operator - 49.65, good; Gautama - 48.44, good (turf); Imasheka and Balthazar - 52.42, handily; Ichiban - 54.52, easy; Rocket Booster - 59.75, pacing; Murphy’s Law and Lovely Pearl - 51.20, handily; Underdinfluence - 59.81, pacing; Cash Wager - 58.73, pacing; Game High - 53.17, handily; Outburst and Woman Of Class - 56.31, pacing; Over And Above - 53.20, handily; Travel Agent - 56.16, pacing; Kent’s Delight - 52.50, handily (turf); Raise A Creek - 58.92, pacing (turf); Return To Sender - 51.72, handily; Chief Commander - 55.92, pacing.

1000 METRES: Le Fabuleux Dansur - 1:03.80, good (turf); Pave The Way and Twice Infallible - 59.89, good; Kaser’s Gold - 1:01.80, good (turf); Phantom Bidder - 1:00.50, good (turf); Phantom Menace and Invincibility - 1:00.83, good. Nowornever and This Cat Is Back - 1:06.59, handily; Fabulous Risk - 1:09.05, handily; Bandikoot - 1:10.47, pacing; Samana Song and Arumur - 1:06.38, handily; Champagne Wager - 1:07.77, handily; Crimson Tower - 1:10.78, pacing; Jay Low and Fresh Mandate - 1:06.87, handily (turf); Millenium Reign - 1:11.66, pacing.