Sugar Mike signals readiness

SUGAR MIKE sent a warning to his rivals in tomorrow’s Stakes and Lower Handicap with a sparkling display on the exercise course at Santa Rosa Park, Arima. The “Horse of the Year” whose unbeaten run of nine wins was snapped in the Santa Rosa Dash Handicap last month, signalled that he is ready to pick back up the winning tread despite his 60.5 kilos burden by breezing the last 1000 metres of the course in 1:00.27 seconds on Wednesday morning. The son of Ponche/No Sugar, with raceday rider Brian Harding aboard, maintained the fast clip after passing the winning post before trailing off well in the backstretch, and showed he will strip much fitter for the 1750 metres race.

Pure Delight who opened her winning account in the hands of apprentice Sheldon Rodrigo last week, seems to be going from strength to strength. The Chester Roberts-trained three-year-old listed to travel 1200 metres in tomorrow’s opener sped 800 metres in company with Philadelphian in a blistering 49.61 seconds. Final Set and Gautama were others to have caught the eyes in their spins over 600 metres, with the former who will attempt a distance of ground in the West Indian bred three-year-olds non-winners of two event posting a time of  36.84 seconds to top the times for the distance on the morning. But the lightly raced American-bred four-year-old went a trifle slower in 36.87 seconds.

YESTERDAY: 400 METRES: Dead Sure - 25.05, handily; Hemlock Falls - 25.26, handily; Zalyan - 29.96, pacing; Captain America and Embraceable - 29.98, pacing; Dunsborough - 29.92, pacing; Bandikoot - 29.93, pacing; Super Grey - 29.81, pacing; Millenium Reign - 29.94, pacing; Danzc With Class - 29.97, pacing; Ex Bob’s Passion and Ex Kamakura - 28.33, pacing.

600 METRES: Not This Time - 39.42, handily; Twice The Jet - 38.59, handily; Le Fabuleux Dansur - 40.16, handily; Ooze - 38.94, Porto Cervo - 44.97, pacing; Mandela - 44.92, pacing; Seaham Harbour - 44.98, pacing.

800 METRES: Premier Attraction - 55.41, handily; Royal Miss - 52.87, handily; Morgan Heritage - 54.47, handily; Hundred Percent - 59.01, pacing; Go Geronimo - 55.99, pacing; Cinco De Mayo and Wild Thing - 59.92, pacing.
1000 METRES: Xian and Kazai - 1:09.97, handily; Fran’s Choice - 1:12.30, pacing; Cat Woman - 1:14.31, pacing; Honor Bound - 1:14.72, pacing; Alert The Ship - 1:14.96, pacing; Entertainer - 1:14.91, pacing.

WEDNESDAY: 400 METRES: Fran’s Choice - 29.93, pacing; Lovely Pearl - 29.92, pacing; Dealer’s Choice - 29.97, pacing; Private Affair - 29.98, pacing; Millenium Reign - 27.17, handily; Majestic - 26.50, handily: Redoubled - 29.92, pacing; Francesca - 28.43, pacing; Joint Venture - 26.41, handily; Ex Dinner Silence and Lit D’Amour - 29.92, pacing; Poetry - 27.26, handily; Ex Bob’s Passion and Ex Kamakura - 28.56, pacing; Ex Flying Mal - 26.19, handily (Boxes); Hollywood Heidi - 29.01, easy (Boxes).
600 METRES: Gautama - 36.87, good; Final Set - 36.84, good; Miss Julie - 37.88, handily; Kent’s Delight - 39.10, handily; Renaissance Man - 37.83, handily; Mandela - 39.76, handily; Silver Bullet - 41.93, pacing; Aishwarya - 44.96, pacing; Ring Dang Do - 44.34, pacing; Cinco De Mayo - 44.98, pacing; Fantastic Story - 44.74, pacing; Return To Glory - 41.26, pacing; Wild Thing - 44.93, pacing.    
800 METRES: Philadelphian and Pure Delight - 49.61, good; Bajan Connection - 59.28, pacing; Movietowne Magic - 53.27, handily; Man Of Class - 53.45, handily; Rebel Music - 59.89, pacing.
1000 METRES: Sugar Mike - 1:00.70, good; Hatrick - 1:07.22, handily; Ice Follies - 1:09.94, handily; Le Fabuleaux dansur - 1:07.06, handily; Bold app - 1:08.06, handily; Full Of Promises - 1:13.93, pacing; Sure Wager - 1:10.39, pacing; Invincibility - 1:10.39, pacing; Honor Bound - 1:10.70, pacing; Premier Attraction - 1:12.26, pacing; Royal Miss - 1:14.26, pacing; Living In Hope - 1:10.42, pacing.
1200 METRES: Sou Sou Moni - 1:20.06, handily.
1400m METRES: Tactical Bid - 1:40.47, handily.