Sugar Mike sweet in Sagicor Cup

“Horse Of The Year”, Sugar Mike will race from the middle position on Saturday in the 11-strong Sagicor Independence Cup. The event is the feature on the Arima Race Club Day 25 card at Santa Rosa Park, Arima on Independence Day (August 31). The Grant Lourenco-trained five-year-old colt turned back the Barbados challenge to capture this race last year by a comfortable five and a half lengths. He will defend his Cup from the seventh hole in the 1,850-metres Turf contest. This post position was selected for the son of Ponche/No Sugar by his trainer at the draw for post positions of the staying contest, held yesterday, at the Penthouse of the Sagicor Financial Centre, Port-of-Spain. Lourenco, won the event previously with creoles Denny Boy in 1997, and Infallibility (2000) is in the envious position of having a three-pronged attack in the event carrying Grade Two status.

The other part of his formation consists of rising three-year-old star Fantastic Story and the one year older Invincibility. Fastastic Story is the youngest member of the 11-strong cast, which comprises three Bajan invaders. The young colt bred to Atticus/Romantic Story will race from Stall Two, and his older stable companion, owned by Junior Sammy, will line up alongside t number three. Barbados, who won three-of the six purses at stake in the last running of the contest with their representatives, will again go after the $200,000 purse fielding a similar number of runners. They will rely on Birdie Point, Foxcote and Lion Country, who will all be ridden by Barbadian jockeys, to give them a first hold of the Independence Cup.

Birdie Point, to be ridden by Juan Crawford drew gate five, Foxcote, will open gate six with Anderson Trotman and Lion Country, who finished fifth in last year’s edition will start widest in the 11-strong field with Anderson Ward in the irons. Sagicor’s Vice Chairman Robert Trestrail said Tuesday’s card represents the ninth consecutive year his company has been associated with the sponsorship of races on Independence Day. The first seven of those were under the flagship of The Mutual. He said he was pleased to be associated with such an auspicious event. “This is the second year of sponsorship under our new brand ‘Sagicor’ and we will continue to maintain the core values adopted in the past,” Trestrail said. “Sagicor is a regional enterprise and together with the Arima Race Club will continue to help develop the sport that encourages and facilitates Caribbean integration,” the vice-chairman said. He disclosed the entire sponsorship deal is worth $120,000.

Following are the framed races, entries, weights and jockeys for the entire card.

RACE 1: (12.05pm) SAGICOR ESTATE PLANNER  3 Y.O & OVER OPTIONAL CLAIMING ($7,500 - $6,500) PURSE $17,000 - 1100 METRES.  

1. Seductive - 51.5 - R.Thomas, 2. Lovely Pearl - 53.5 - N.Abrego, 3. El Presidente - 49.5 - R.Ramirez, 4. Storming Wind - 50.5 - G.Laban, 5. Alibi Ike - 53.5 - B.Harding, 6. Politics - 50.5 - N.Samaroo, 7. Peace of Mind - 51.5 - R.Rajkumar.

RACE 2: (12.42pm) SAGICOR CHILDREN EDUCATION PROVIDER 3 Y.O & OVER OPTIONAL CLAIMING ($20,000 - $16,000) - PURSE $20,000 - 1200 METRES.

1. Travel Agent - 56.5 - N.Abrego, 2. Hatrick - 54.5 - J.Arneaud, 3. In Swinger - 50.5 - R.Rajkumar, 4. First Time - 54.5 - S.Rodrigo, 5. Tora Bora - 56.5 - J.Stephen, 6. New Star - 50.5 - W.Galviz, 7. Undisputed - 50.5 - L.Keizer, 8. Hundred Percent - 56.5 - R.Ramirez.
RACE 3: (1.18pm) SAGICOR MONEY SAVER W I BRED 3 Y.O - PURSE $22,000 - 1750 METRES.
1. Laura’s Boy - 56.5 - K.Chandler, 2. Takeover - 53.5 - N.Abrego, 3. Kato - 56.5 - R.Thomas, 4. Chief Commander - 53.5 - W.Galviz, 5. Sweet N’ Beautiful - 51.5 - L.Keizer, 6. Evil Kneevle - 53.5 - R.Ramirez, 7. Over And Above - 53.5 - R.Jadoo, 8. Private Affair - 51.5 - G.Laban.

RACE 4: (1.54pm) (DIV A) SAGICOR HOME ACHIEVER W I BRED 3 Y.O MAIDENS - PURSE $22,000 - 1200 METRES.

1. Picture Perfect - 56.5 - G.Laban, 2. Mayaro Breeze - 53.5 - J.Arneaud, 3. Return To Sender - 44.5 - L.Keizer, 4. Traviata - 44.5 - J.Stephen, 5. Deadsure - 44.5 - D.Gaff, 6. Hassan - 54.5 - R.Rajkumar, 7. Flying Eagle - 44.5 - N.Abrego, 8. Blondie - 44.5 - R.Mangalee, 9. Xian - 46.5 - K.Jadoo, 10. Danzc With Class - 52.5 - R.Jadoo.

RACE 5: (2.32pm) (DIV. B) SAGICOR HOME ACHIEVER W I BRED 3 Y.O MAIDENS - PURSE $22,000 - 1200 METRES.

1. Buffalo Soldier - 56.5 - N.Abrego, 2. Joint Account - 52.5 - W.Galviz, 3. Samana Song - 53.5 - R.Ramirez, 4. Explosive Suzie - 54.5 - S.Rodrigo, 5. 2Sharp - 55.5 - C.Jadoo, 6. Rocket Booster - 44.5 - R.Badal, 7. Somebody - 52.5 - R.Singh, 8. Crack Shot - 54.5 - B.Harding, 9. Massoud - 56.5 - K.Chandler, 10. Romantic Dancing - 54.5 - C.Marquez.

RACE 6: (3.09pm) SAGICOR RETIREMENT PLANNER 3 Y.O & OVER OPTIONAL CLAIMING ($10,500 - $8,500) - PURSE $18,000 - 1350 METRES.

1. Gaza Strip - 55.5 - R.Rajkumar, 2. Bajan Connection - 50.5 - W.Galviz, 3. Magen - 50.5 - R.Singh, 4. Isle Be There - 53.5 - N.Abrego, 5. Indian Decision - 52.5 - G.Laban, 6. Bold Fapp - 51.5 - S.Rodrigo, 7. El Guerrouj - 45.5 - K.Bissoon, 8. Entertainer - 50.5 - B.Harding, 9. Creme Caramel - 54.5 - J.Stephen, 10. Copy Cat - 56.5 - K.Chandler.

RACE 7: SAGICOR INVESTMENT PLANNER RESTRICTED HANDICAP - 2 Y.O & OVER - PURSE $21,000 - 1750 METRES.

1. Groomsman - 46.5 - C.Marquez, 2. Alert The Ship - 56.5 - J.Arneaud, 3. Morgan Heritage - 50.0 - N.Abrego, 4. Royal Miss - 51.5 - J.Stephen, 5. Super Grey - 56.5 - R.Jadoo, 6. Mandela - 51.5 - S.Rodrigo, 7. Premier Attraction - 44.0 - N.Chadee, 8. Squee Zintru - 46.5 - W.Galviz, 9. Melanie My Love - 47.5 - L.Keizer, 10. Stonebright - 49.0 - R.Thomas, 11. Mucho Tempo - 51.5 - B.Harding, 12. Maid Of Honour - 51.0 - R.Rajkumar, 13. Naturelly Classy - 51.5 - J.Stephen, 14. Bon Voyage - 54.5 - G.Laban.

RACE 8: (4.25pm) SANTA ROSA CLASSIC (GRADE 1) TROPHY - W I BRED 3 Y.O - PURSE $60,000 - 1200 METRES.

1. Seaham Harbour - 54.5 - R.Thomas, 2. Dealer’s Choice - 54.5 - R.Jadoo, 3. Salsa Moves - 56.5 - L.Keizer, 4. Java In Style - 56.5 - J.Arneaud, 5. Saucy Wow - 54.5 - R.Ramirez, 6. Pure Delight - 54.5 - S.Rodrigo, 7. Lady Secret - 54.5 - N.Samaroo, 8. Aishwarya - 54.5 - N.Abrego, 9. Murphy’s Law - 54.5 - B.Harding, 10. Bandikoot - 56.5 - R.Rajkumar, 11. Java Takeover - 54.5 - G.Laban, 12. Moulin Rouge - 54.5 - W.Galviz.

RACE 9: (5.05pm) SAGICOR INDEPENDENCE CUP (GRADE 1) TROPHY 3 Y.O & OVER (0PEN) - PURSE $200,000 - 1850 METRES (TURF).
1. Dottie’s Way - 54.0 - J.Arneaud, 2. Fantastic Story - 51.0 - G.Laban, 3. Invincibility - 56.0 - W.Galviz, 4. Outswinger - 56.0 - R.Jadoo, 5. Birdie Point - 56.0 - J.Crawford, 6. Foxcote - 56.0 - A.Trotman, 7. Sugar Mike - 56.0 - B.Harding, 8. Phantom Bidder - 56.0 - N.Abrego, 9. Miss Lover Lover - 54.0 - R.Rajkumar, 10. Top Of The Class - 53.0 - S.Rodrigo, 11. Lion Country - 56.0 - A.Wrad.

RACE 10: (5.40pm) SAGICOR MORTGAGE PROTECTOR 2 Y.O & OVER - PURSE $23,000 - 1300 METRES.
1. Ghost Meadow - 50.0 - N.Abrego, 2. Rebel Music - 51.5 - W.Galviz, 3. Honor Bound - 55.5 - J.Arneaud, 4. Kavita Nadira - 48.5 - K.Bissoon, 5. Life In The Sky - 50.5 - L.Keizer, 6. Carnival Messiah - 56.5 - G.Laban, 7. Soul Asylum - 49.5 - R.Thomas, 8. Movietowne Magic - 53.5 - B.Harding, 9. This Cat Is Back - 52.5 - S.Rodrigo, 10. Sure Ting - 50.5 - R.Jadoo, 11. Golden Honour - 47.5 - J.Stephen.