‘Colt’ Durant Memorial runners sparkle

TRAINER Grant Lourenco is leaving no stone unturned with his horses’ preparations for the Arima Race Club Arrival Day programme, when the Guineas and Eric “Colt” Durant Memorial Handicap will hold centre stage. The young trainer who would be without a runner in the first leg of the triple crown, after Pave The Way was ruled out of the classic with injury, concentrated on getting his other stable runners right for the  May 31 card. On Sunday he sent Fantastic Story, Invincibility and Sugar Mike galloping together, and must have been pleased with the raceday speed of the trio, who seemed bent on smashing the clock.

The younger Fantastic Story held his own in the elite company, posting an impressive 1:10.74 seconds for the 1200 metres spin, the same as Invincibiity, with their more illustrious stablemate and Horse of the Year trailing in their wake in 1:11.50 seconds. Fantastic Story is expected to be seen out in the line-up for the Allowance sprint over 1200 metres, while Invincibility and Sugar Mike will be aimed for the Durant Memorial over 1725 metres on the grass. Dottie’s Way who will go after the Durant Memorial on the inner circuit, also got down to serious business.

The Kenneth De Silva Jnr-trained filly sped over the last 800 metres of the course in an impressive 47.80 seconds. Yesterday morning two other members in the expected Durant Memorial field also had some explosive gallops. Daredevil Hero who will represent champion trainer Glenn Mendez in the event, sprinted over 1000 metres in 58.66 seconds, and Miss Lover Lover from the Edmund de Freitas barn racing about four off the rails, posted 1:00.19 seconds over the same acreage.  

Gallops recorded yesterday: 
400 METRES: Spin N’ Squeeze - 29.99, pacing; Ex-Bob’s Passion - 29.98, pacing; Alibi Ike - 29.97, pacing; Sunday Jewel - 28.93, pacing; Love Till Die - 29.77, pacing.
600 METRES: Care Free - 38.96, handily; Song Of Freedom - 38.47, handily.
1000 METRES: Daredevil Hero - 58.66, good; Miss Lover Lover - 1:00.19, good; You’ve Got Mail and Second Chances - 1:01.00, good. Return To Sender - 1:02.69, good.
Sunday gallops: 400 METRES: Native Love - 27.17, easy; Inthelineoffire - 25.21; handily; Silver Bullet - 25.26, good (Boxes); Karzai - 26.73, handily (Boxes).
600 METRES: Aticka and Perfect Gem - 36.05, good. Smart And Lucky - 34.79, good; Outswinger - 44.96, pacing; Trini To D Bone and Ex-Java - 44.99, pacing; Maid Of Honour - 41.23, handily; Comanchero - 42.72, pacing; Ichiban - 41.83, pacing; Dunsborough - 41.58, handily; Mir On Fire - 41.13, handily; Blondie - 38.23, handily (turf); Ex-Millbage and Ex-Glanost - 37.99, handily (turf); Dead Sure - 41.86, pacing.
800 METRES: Dottie’s Way - 47.80, good; Ocean Turf - 48.71, good (turf); Travel Agent - 48.01, good (turf); Super Grey - 50.49, good (turf); Return To Sender - 57.47, pacing; Sure Wager - 57.64, pacing; Samana Song - 55.81, pacing; Smooth Operator - 51.91, easy; Hemlock Falls - 53.34, ridden out; Takeover - 56.33, pacing; Alert The Ship and Kato - 52.90, handily.
1000 METRES: Phantom Bidder - 1:03.33, good (turf); Daredevil Hero - 1:04.06, handily (turf); Honor Bound and Over And Above - 1:02.89, good, Honor Bound better; Sure Honey - 1:12.45, pacing; You’ve Got Mail and Second Chances - 1:13.08, pacing; Twice Infallible and Bound To Dot Com - 1:05.63, handily; Buffalo Soldier - 1:12.07, pacing; French Academy - 1:09.98, handily; Seaham Harbour - 1:13.41, pacing; Bandikoot - 1:05.98, handily; Lovely Pearl - 1:11.29, pacing; Ghost Meadow - 1:14.95, pacing.
1200 METRES: Fantastic Story, Invincibility - 1:10.74, good; Sugar Mike - 1:11.50. good; Mucho Tempo - 1:16.93, good; Phenomenon - 1:17.17, good; Peace Of Mind - 1:29.98, pacing; Morgan Heritage - 1:19.98, handily; Joan Of Arc - 1:23.43, pacing (turf); Cash Wager and Fabulous Risk - 1:17.60, handily (turf); Fast Company - 1:21.95, handily.
1800 METRES: Hundred Percent - 2:07.23, pacing.