Arrival Day runners ready to rumble

MOST runners entered for Monday’s Arima Race Club Arrival Day 11-race programme have curtailed serious preparations and are now awaiting the starter. This was evident on the exercise course at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday, where trainers took things very easy with their runners, keeping them either on easy street or choosing instead to have them breeze through the straight. Mucho Tempo who, based on past performances is likely to be installed as one of the favourites to lift the Union Park Turf Club Guineas, had a light canter with raceday rider Rajpaul Rajkumar in his irons, extending his stride over the last 400 metres in 28.18 seconds.   

Java In Style and Melanie My Lover, the pair trainer Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj will be hoping can capture 1800 metres holiday feature, chose to sharpen their edges over in shorts spins up the straight. Java In Style went into overdrive over the last 400 metres completed in 23.87 seconds, while his more fancied stablemate quickened from the 600 metres marker to the winning line in a handy 37.90 seconds. Miss Lover Lover who will take her chances in the Eric “Colt” Durant Memorial Handicap closed off her gallops over the 600 metres strip before the winning post. The Edmund De Freitas-trained mare teamed up with raceday partner Rajpaul Rajkumar to post 36.89 seconds. Other sharp spins on the exercise course made sloppy by overnight rain came from Perfect Gem and Smooth Operator, Bajan Connection and Richie Rich over 400 metres, and Fabulous Risk, Phenomenon and City Of Lights, and Tea Time Doc over 600 metres.

Gallops recorded yesterday: 400 METRES: Perfect Gem and Smooth Operator - 22.90, good; Java In Style - 23.87, good; Richie Rich - 24.08, good; Bajan Connection - 24.77, good; Deadsure - 23.60, good; Joint Venture - 29.98, pacing; Top Of The Class - 29.00, pacing; Honor Bound - 28.62, pacing; Hyarima - 29.83, pacing; El Guerrouj - 27.64, pacing; All Set To Battle - 26.98, handily; Attitude - 29.99, pacing.

600 METRES: Phenomenon and City Of Lights - 36.28, good; Miss Lover Lover - 36.89, good; Fabulous Risk - 37.43, good; Tea Time Doc - 37.30, good; Born To Charm - 44.92, pacing; Song Of Freedom and Flying Eagle - 44.97, pacing; Cleopatra and E Mail - 39.76, handily; Ballybunion - 37.81, handily; Ice Follies - 38.00, handily; Adoring Ruby - 39.45, handily; Life In Russia - 39.59, handily; New Star - 42.60, pacing; Living In Hope - 44.99, pacing; Indian Decision - 42.90, pacing; Melanie My Love - 37.90, handily; The Chairman - 42.42, pacing.
800 METRES: Tricky Guy - 52.57, handily; Lovely Pearl - 51.42, handily; Copy Cat - 57.93, pacing.

1000 METRES: Yaa Asantewaa - 1:06.88, handily; Bon Voyage - 1:06.46, handily; Royal Miss - 1:08.38, handily.