Lourenco’s ‘Sagicor Cup’ trio ready

TRAINER Grant Lourenco stable stars have been doing everything asked of them at exercises gallops and look sure to give a good account of themselves in the Sagicor Indepen-dence Cup Trophy, feature race on the Arima Race Club Day 25 programme at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Tuesday. Over the two previous days his trio of Sugar Mike, Invincibility and Fantastic Story have been very impressive in their workouts over varied distances, giving the young conditioner confidence of lifting the top prize for a second consecutive year in the 1850 metres turf event carrying a total purse of $200,000.

Sugar Mike who will be defending the ‘Cup’, has been doing speedwork to be close up in the staying event. The “Horse of the Year” was given a light first round yesterday by raceday rider Brian Harding, only to open up over the last 1000 metres of  the second to post 1:00.13 seconds. Invincibility noted for his sprinting ability before his brave showing behind Sugar Mike in the Stakes and Lower Handicap over 1750  last month, also made an appearance yesterday and drilled 1200 metres under Wilmer Galviz in 1:15.02 seconds. Fantastic Story, youngest of the trio continued to stretch out over the longer distances.

The stout-hearted three-year-old turned out Wednesday and began to pace from the 1600 metres marker of the left handed sand course with apprentice Gary Laban astride, gradually getting into gear from the 1200 metres point to the winning line. The son of Atticus was full of life over the final 1000 metres of the spin and completed the 1600 metres trip in 1:45.99 seconds. Barbadian invaders Birdie Point, Foxcote and Lion Country paid a visit to the course yesterday. The trio came out of their quarantine barns after the course was watered and graded to acquaint themselves with the surroundings. Birdie Point and Foxcote paced through the straight and the three-some are expected to strut their stuff in earnest over the weekend.

Here are the gallops recorded:
YESTERDAY: 400 METRES: Birdie Point - 29.97, pacing; Foxcote - 29.78, pacing; Sure Honey - 26.00, pacing; Samana Song - 28.98, pacing; Ula - 29.97, pacing; Ex Suzan’s Mother - 28.99, pacing; Ex Prized Rebecca, Ex Sparkling Hero, Dream Weaver and Ex Tempest - 29.53, pacing; Melanie My Love - 28.92, pacing; Oceanic Man - 29.68, pacing; Gold Conveyor - 28.97, pacing; Java Takeover - 29.17, pacing Philadelphian - 27.17, handily; Kavita Nadira - 29.18, pacing; Game And Glory and Ex Isle Be Gone - 28.79, pacing.
600 METRES: Flying Eagle - 36.41, good; Hatrick - 36.48, ridden out; El Guerrouj - 39.10, handily; Sweet N’ Beautiful - 41.15, handily; Cleopatra - 44.39, pacing; Java In Style - 44.99, pacing; Run Mani Run - 44.92, pacing.

800 METRES: Bold Fapp - 50.45, good; Punto A Punto - 58.97, pacing; Sure Ting - 59.91, pacing; Dunsborough - 59.93, pacing; Bandikoot - 59.91, pacing; Jay Low - 58.74, pacing; Hundred Percent - 56.09, pacing; Ice Follies - 59.92, pacing.

1000 METRES: Sugar Mike - 1:00.13, good; Premier Attraction - 1:06.49, handily; Blondie - 1:09.06, handily; Picture Perfect - 1:06.54, handily; Living In Hope - 1:11.23, pacing; Royal Miss - 1:12.41, pacing; Super Grey - 1:11.00, pacing; Ghost Meadow - 1:10.13, pacing; Miss Lover Lover - 1:13.79, pacing.

1200 METRES: Invincibility - 1:15.02, goodl; Tactical Bid - 1:29.98, pacing.

1400 METRES: Yashoda - 1:39.60, pacing.

WEDNESDAY: 400 METRES: Mayaro Breeze - 23.34, good; Golden Honouir - 25.33, handily; Joint Account - 24.92, handily; hundred Percent - 27.13, handily; Punto A Punto - 29.67, pacing; Explosive Suzie - 27.17, pacing; Sou Sou Moni - 29.99, pacing; Flying Eagle - 29.97, pacing; Melanie My Love - 29.80, pacing; Top Of The Class - 29.92, pacing; Ex Momento - 29.18, pacing; Ex Suzan’s Mother and Fame And Glory - 28.88, pacing; Undisputed - 29.92, pacing.

600 METRES: Arts And Lovers - 27.20, good; Pure Delight - 38.83, handily; Groomsman - 38.44, handily; Ghost Meadow - 41.98, easy; Evil Kneevle - 44.98, pacing; Bandikoot - 44.99, pacing; Private Affair - 44.95, pacing; Cleopatra - 44.92, pacing; Blue Reign and New Star - 43.20, pacing; Picture Perfect - 44.96, pacing.

1000 METRES: Regent Boy - 1:14.98, pacing; Rebel Music - 1:07.65, handily.
1200 METRES: Mucho Tempo, Soul Asylum and Mandela - 1:14.27, good; Honoured Bound and Kato - 1:17.01, handily; Dunsborough - 1:28.69, pacing.

1400 METRES: Full Of Promises and Ula - 1:41.95, handily.

1600 METRES: Fantastic Story - 1:45.99, good.