Sugar Mike ducks out feature

“Horse-of-the-Year” Sugar Mike has ducked out of the Stakes and Lower Handicap yesterday. This leaves a field of six runners to contest the 1725 metres Turf highlight at Santa Rosa Park, Arima on Saturday. The Bertwin Samlalsingh-owned colt favourite to lift the Sagicor Independence Cup failed to retain the title when beaten into fifth place by Miss Lover Lover last month. And declining to take up another challenge on the surface he least favours, the contest is left wide open. The decision by connections to keep the top stayer of last year indoors also makes the staying event a match between Foxcote, Birdie Point and Lion Country, the trio of runners from Barbados. The visitors had targetted the Independence Day feature but failed to earn any of the purses in the Grade One contest.

Also in the running for honours is the local outfit of Fantastic Story, Invincibility and Porto Cervo. Saturday’s race will be the final chance for the Bajan runners to redeem themselves, as they are booked to return home on Tuesday. With the Royal Oak Derby carded for next Friday, the Arima Race Club found the going tough to get horses to fill out their round 27 programme. However they managed to attract a total 63 entries to fill out eight of the ten races framed. The juvenile event for non-winners of two races and the $10,500 to $8,500 claiming contest over 1350 metres failed to attract sufficient runners and were cancelled.

Following are the framed races, entries, weights and jockeys for the entire card.
RACE 1: (1.35 pm) W. I BRED 3 Y.O & OVER MAIDEN CLAIMING ($14,000 - 11.500) - PURSE $15,000 - 1100 METRES.
1. Somebody - 51.5 - R.Jadoo, 2. Carefree - 53.5 - R.Chadee, 3. Woman Of Class - 53.5 - J.Payano, 4. Seductive - 50.5 - R.Thomas, 5. Blondie - 53.5 - R.Mangalee, 6. Nobleman - 52.5 - L.Keizer, 7. Rocket Booster - 53.5 - R.Badal.

RACE 2: (2.10pm) 3 Y.O & OVER OPTIONAL CLAIMING ($7,500 - $6,500) - PURSE $17,000 - 1750 METRES.
1. Bold Fapp - 51.5 - R.Jadoo, 2. Creme Caramel - 54.5 - B.Harding, 3. Vaqueiro - 45.5 - J.Arneaud, 4. Runing Trick - 50.5 - R.Rajkumar, 5. Hemlock Falls - 49.5 - R.Chadee, 6. Mary Magdalene - 49.5 - R.Ragoonath, 7. Daurian - 51.5 - G.Laban, 8. Royal Red - 53.5 - S.Rodrigo.
RACE 3: (2.45 pm) IMPORTED 2 Y.O & OVER MAIDENS - PURSE $21,000 - 1200 METRES.
1. Royal Miss - 51.5 - J.Stephen, 2. Stonebright - 56.5 - J.Arneaud, 3. Royal Dame - 44.5 - R.Jadoo, 4. Pauls’ first - 50.5 - R.Radrigo, 5. Life In The Sky - 54.5 - G.Laban, 6. Senor Gucci - 53.5 - W.Galviz, 7. Twice The Jet - 53.5 - R.Thomas.

RACE 4: (3.20 pm) W I BRED 4 Y.O & OVER NON-WINNERS OF FIVE RACES IN CAREER - PURSE $20,000 - 1200 METRES.
1. Full Of Promises - 48.5 - J.Stephen, 2. Phenomenon - 56.5 - J.Arneaud, 3. Reign Of Fire - 48.5 - G.Laban, 4. The Chairman - 56.5 - W.Galviz, 5. First Time - 52.5 - S.Rodrigo, 6. Affirm Decision - 52.5 - K.Bissoon, 7. Bajan Connection - 48.5 - L.Keizer.

RACE 5: (3.55 pm) STARTER ALLOWANCE - PURSE $23,000 - 1200 METRES.
1. Smooth Operator - 53.5 - R.Rajkumar, 2. Ghost Meadow - 47.5 - F.Razack, 3. Rebel Music - 49.5 - R.Jadoo, 4. Soul Asylum - 51.5 - R.Thomas, 5. Movietowne Magic - 51.5 - B.Harding, 6. Fortunate Flag - 56.5 - W.Galviz.
RACE 6: (4.30 pm) STAKES AND LOWER HANDICAP - PURSE $35,000 - 1725 METRES (TURF).
1. Lion Country - 51.0 - R.Rajkumar, 2. Birdie Point - 50.0 - J.Crawford, 3. Porto Cervo - 50.0 - L.Keizer, 4. Invincibility - 56.5 - J.Stephen, 5. Fantastic Story - 53.5 - G.Laban, 6. Foxcote - 52.5 - R.Thomas.

RACE 7: (5.05 pm) W I BRED 3 Y.O NON-WINNERS OF TWO RACES - PURSE $18,000 - 1100 METRES (TURF),
1. Jay Low - 52.5 - C.Marquez, 2. Chief Of Staff - 54.5 - F.Razack, 3. Pure Delight - 52.5 - S.Rodrigo, 4. Evil Kneevle - 54.5 - D.Gaff, 5. Sweet N’ Beautiful - 53.5 - R.Ramirez, 6. Bandikoot - 55.5 - B.Harding, 7. Final Set - 54.5 - R.Jadoo, 8. Sunday Jewel - 52.5 - J.Arneaud, 9. Lovetillidie - 54.5 - G.laban, 10. Mister Hypocrit - 54.5 - L.Keizer, 11. 2Sharp - 54.5 - H.Emamalie, 12. Sure Honey - 52.5 - N.Samaroo.

RACE 8: (5.35 pm) W I BRED 3 Y.O MAIDENS - PURSE $22,000 - 1350 METRES.
1. Philadelphian - 52.5 - S.Rodrigo, 2. Perfect Gem - 52.5 - J.Arneaud, 3. Adoring Ruby - 50.5 - R.Rajkumar, 4. Samana Song - 52.5 - R.Jadoo, 5. Joint Account - 52.5 - W.Galviz, 6. Ice Follies - 53.5 - B.Harding, 7. Flying Eagle - 52.5 - L.Keizer, 8. Crackshot - 55.5 - G.Laban, 9. Badabing - 54.5 - J.Stephen, 10. Karzai - 55.5 - C.Jadoo.