Top Of The Class to whip Sugar Mike

TOP OF THE CLASS can even the score with  Sugar Mike by reversing the placings of the Gold Cup running with the “Horse of the Year” in today’s Stakes and Lower Handicap feature on the Arima Race Club Day 20 card at Santa Rosa Park, Arima. Both horses recorded exceptional performances during the past season, with Top Of The Class scoring seven victories from 11 starts. Among those victories were the Easter Guineas, CLICO Midsummer Classic, and Royal Oak Derby, the three classics forming the local triple crown series. The son of Freshly Squeezed/ Crescendo then went on to add the Caribbean Champion Stakes to his resume to earn $1 million in bonuses from Colonial Life Insurance Company. Sugar Mike on the other hand dominated the top bracket winning nine of ten starts, among which were the President’s Cup, Independence Cup, and Diamond Stakes, before closing off  the season with victories in the Stewards Cup and victory over Top Of The Class in the Gold Cup.

In that meeting over 2000 metres on Boxing day, Top Of The Class with his customary front-running style took along the field with his 49.5 kilos impost only to be collared and passed in the straight by Sugar Mike who toted 56.5 kilos. The horses were then well rested after this tough battle, with Sugar Mike making his return in the Sandy Lane Gold Cup at the Garrison Savannah in Barbados in March, and Top Of The Class in an Allowance event in May. Both tasted defeat on their return, but bounced back to winning form in their follow up starts. With two outings each at home under their belts, the duo are expected to strip fitter for today’s race over 1750 metres which should create much excitement for turfites attending the 10-race programme at racing headquarters. The handicappers in their efforts to make today’s return clash as close as possible handed Sugar Mike top impost of 60.5 kilos, a weight he triumphed with on three occasions last year and again this season.

Top Of The Class who was in receipt of seven kilos when they met at the back end last season, enjoys a further four kilos for the beating, and the added advantage may play a big part in the locally-bred superstar turning the tables on his conqueror, now that he is a year older and much stronger. Also Sugar Mike’s performance in the Santa Rosa Dash gave the indication that he is a step or two behind last year’s form, and with those factors in place could find the going tough against the triple crown winner. Invincibility who snapped Sugar Mike sequence of nine wins on the main course in the Santa Rosa Dash is yet to make his mark over a distance of ground.

But the manner in which he swooped to victory late last time out, suggests that a waiting ride is all that is needed to be among the top three finishers.  Invincibility gets the vote ahead of his more illustrious stablemate, Sugar Mike, for the runner-up spot. Fantastic Story has shown marked improvement in his most recents races, but he missed yesterday’s veterinarian examination and might not take his place in the field. The Starter Allowance event, supporting race on the bill, looks evenly matched among the six expected runners. Tactical Bid with her good tactical speed gets the vote to score in the 1350 metres race ahead of Man Of Class and Honor Bound.