Guessing game on for Guineas

The Guineas is fast approaching and the annual guessing game is already underway as to how the cream of last season’s juvenile crop will fare. A field 15 runners will stand their ground for the event on May 31. French Academy and Mucho Tempo, winners of the Ibis Stakes and Flamingo Stakes respectively head the list, which was depleted by seven at the final subscription stage on Monday. French Academy, who exposed her staying powers and set up a sequence when she romped home in the Gleneagle Stakes over 1800 metres earlier this month, is one of three runners representing trainer John O’Brien.

The past president of the Arima Race Club will also saddle Privilege and the disappointing Takeover in the classic, which will be staged for the first time on Arrival Day, instead of the customary Easter Monday. Mucho Tempo, who lowered the colours of  Pave The Way in the Flamingo Stakes will be the lone representative from trainer Harriram Gobin’s barn. The son of Freshly Squeezed/Up Tempo will carry more than his allotted weight on his shoulders in the event. The bay colt, like Top Of The Class, who won last year’s event, is owned by the same partnership of Merlin Samlalsingh and Rupert Leong Poi.

Victory in the 1800 metres on the holiday card will be sweet all round, as it will not only give the combination back-to-back victories in the event, but will secure a first classic for his young trainer, who came close to winning his first championship two years ago. Over And Above, who passed the post first, only to be disqualified for returning with short weight in his saddle bag, will carry the hopes of Jack Debideen. Champion trainer Glenn Mendez, who won the last edition of the event with Top Of The Class, will try for a repeat with Second Chances, while Kenneth De Silva Jnr and Cyril “Patch” Arneaud try for their first win in the event with Kato, and Seaham Harbour.

Following are the entries:
BANDIKOOT, FAST COMPANY, FLYING EAGLE, FRENCH ACADEMY, JAV IN STYLE, KATO, MELANIE MY LOVE, MUCHO TEMPO, MURPHY’S LAW, OVER AND ABOVE, PRIVILEGE, PURE DELIGHT, SEAHAM HARBOUR, SECOND CHANCES, TAKEOVER.