ARC Cup runners get ready

ARIMA Race Club Cup runners stole the spotlight on the gallops course yesterday as they got their campaign going for the Grade One race which will share spotlight with the Ibis and Flamingo Stakes on Easter Monday. Phantom Bidder, one of three entries from the yard of leading trainer John O’Brien again showed that he is no slouch by sharpening his edges over the 1000 metres course in 1:01.52 seconds. Gautama who gave a good showing against the top bracket in his last appearance on the grass continues to go the right way.

This four-year-old chestnut from trainer Jose William-Samaroo’s barn had stablemate Caribbean Kiss for company, and the pair had a pleasing run over the same acreage in 1:01.77 seconds. Invincibility which is also among the 10 runners for which  final subscriptions were paid in the 1800 metres race to be run on April 12, wasn’t asked to open his throttle, but went at a handy clip to cover the same  trip in 1:07.43 seconds. Phantom Menace, another member of trainer Grant Lourenco’s team had a light exercise only increasing up the straight to record 27.31 seconds for the last 400 metres. But Lourenco’s stable star and Horse of the Year 2003 Sugar Mike who is still in quarantine following his return from a failed attempt at the Sandy Lane Gold Cup, only walked the course after the other horses were back in their stables.

Fabulous Risk, a late withdrawal from Saturday’s 1100-metres feature won by Fortunate Flag, breezed 600 metres 36.13 seconds. Also seen out yesterday morning were a number of horses eyeing the Ibis Stakes and Flamingo Stakes. Over And Above paced the backstretch brefore increasing over the last 400 metres of the main course in 24.17 seconds. Mucho Tempo which will also be in the Flamingo Stakes line-up had a similar preparatory spin with Phenomenon for company, the pair clocking 24.92 seconds.

Following are the recorded gallops:
400 METRES: Over And Above - 24.17, good; Mucho Tempo and Phenomenon - 24.92, good; Samana Song - 25.01, handily (Turf); Indian Decision - 26.89, handily; Phantom Menace - 27.31, pacing; Isle Be True - 29.92, pacing; Bajan Connection - 25.98, handily.
600 METRES: Once In A Lifetime - 37.08, good; Fabulous Risk - 36.13, good; Cyber Five and Real Spirit - 36.38, good; Kaser’s Gold - 36.52, good (Turf); Tora Bora - 37.04, good (Turf); Bold Brush and Redoubled - 38.52, handily (Turf); Fast Company - 38.95, handily; Le Fabuleux Dansur - 44.99, pacing; Bon Voyage - 41.39, handily.
800 METRES: Lovely Honoree and Smooth Operator - 4854, good; New Star - 53.95, handily; Mayaro Breeze - 53.34, handily; French Academy - 49.95, good; Fromnowuntil, Royal Red and Life In Russia - 49.17, good; Fantastic Astory - 50.23, good; Rythmn Divine and Kent’s Delight - 49.86, good (Turf); Euro Star and Privilege - 53.68, handily; Island Runner and Artica - 55.52, pacing; Miss Julie - 52.40, handily; Mary Magdalene - 52.98, handily; Atlantic Breeze - 55.23, handily (Turf); Runaway Rocket, Joint Account and Speed At Last - 53.80, handily (Turf); Undisputed - 59.50, pacing; Bandingthong - 55.37, pacing.
1000 METRES:Gautama and Caribbean Kiss - 1:01.77, good; Naturelly Classy - 1:02.08, good; Outswinger - 1:03.30, good; Phantom Bidder - 1:01.52, good; Francesca - 1:03.67, good; You’ve Got Mail - 110.90, pacing; Champagne Wager - 1:06.06, handily; Honor Bound - 1:14.72, pacing; Sure Honey - 1:06.95, handily; Invincibility - 1:07.43, handily; Game High - 1:05.16, handily.
1200 METRES: Hundred Percent - 1:27.01, pacing.