Chief Commander in charge at gallops

CHIEF COMMANDER continues to shape well in his preparation leading up to the Royal Oak Derby to be staged at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Friday, Republic Day. The son of Freshly Squeezed/Concordia, who is a member of trainer John O’Brien’s three-pronged attack in the final classic this season, showed that he is on the upgrade by breezing the last 1000 metres of the exercise course in 1:03.47 seconds. Takeover, who will also be in the classic line-up was sent to accompany Chief Commander in the spin but proved no match on the sloppy ground conditions and trailed behind in 1:04.25 seconds.

French Academy, the more highly fancied of the trio, was not seen out yesterday. But a report from a reliable and confidential source said she was being kept out of the eyes of the regular clockers. He said French Academy drilled the last 1000 metres of the course on Saturday, a shade under one minute, and looked in immaculate condition on her return from the spin. Silver Bullet who trainer Jack Debideen will be relying on to do the trick in the 2000 metres with a purse of $250,000 went at a handy clip over 800 metres in 53.56 seconds. Fast Company was sent over the same trip by trainer Chester Roberts, and he looked light in his coat but still managed to register 50.39 seconds on the clock, which attained a “good” in the remarks column of the official clockers report.

But the picture and form-guide could change drastically in a few days time, with the arrival of Jamaican runners, La Tonia, Uram and Seattle Sue. The trio are expected to fly in tomorrow. Also seen out yesterday morning were a number of runners in the Nursery Stakes, the supporting race to the spotlight Derby event. Embraceable stretched out over 600 metres in 37.27 seconds. But Luann’s Passion, a winner last time out, clocked 52.62 seconds for 800 metres, and her stablemate Run Mani Run travelled a trifle slower in 53.53 seconds. Arts And Lovers, winner of  the first juvenile event of the season went from the 1000 metres marker in the backstretch to the winning line in 1:08.82 seconds.     

Here are gallops recorded yesterday:
400 METRES: Travel Agent - 23.09, good; Speed and Atlantic Breeze - 24.57, good; Renaissance Man - 24.78, good; V For Victory - 26.52, handily; Ex Mossy Creek and Ex Carmel Nugget - 25.83, handily; New Star - 26.74, easy; Ex Isle Be Gone - 25.86, easy (Boxes); Kylie Wylie, Really Quiet and Ex Faerie Dove - 26.00, easy (Boxes); Fran’s Choice - 25.87, easy (Boxes); Fearless Angel - 28.17, pacing; Sure Park and Behind The Bridge - 29.80, pacing.

600 METRES: Hartrick - 36.76, good; Java Takeover - 36.58, good; Miss Julie - 36.40, good; Aticka and Tea Time Doc - 36.34, good (Boxes); Ballybunion - 36.57, good; Salsa Moves - 36.12, good; Trini To D Bone, Runaway Rocket and Aishwarya - 35.87, good (Boxes); Kalyan - 35.91, good (Boxes); Francesca - 35.70, good; Carnival Messiah - 37.20, handily; Mystic River - 37.02, handily (Boxes); Saucy Wow - 36.63, good (Boxes); Blue Reign - 37.65, easy (Boxes); Crown Point - 38.06, handily; Native Love - 37.79, handily; Dare To Dream - 40.70, handily; Embraceable - 37.27, handily; Bold As Brass and Lord Arazi - 39.94, handily; Romantic Dancing - 38.63, handily; Mir On Fire - 40.17, handily; Politics - 37.72, handily; Honor Bound - 38.94, handily; Dinner Silence and This Cat Is Back - 40.47, handily.; Golden Grades - 41.68, pacing; As Time Goes By - 44.976, easy (Boxes); Outswinger - 42.20, pacing; Priceless Fame - 44.17, pacing; Once Again - 44.42, pacing; Ex Charlotte Box - 41.25, pacing; Preffered Share - 42.81, pacing.

800 METRES: Sure Ting - 49.74, good; Nowornever and City Of Lights - 50.41, good; Top Of The Class - 48.54, good; Fast Company - 50.29, good; Luann’s Passion - 52.62, handily; Return To Glory - 53.66, handily; Run Mani Run - 53.53, handily; Redoubled - 53.20, handily; Silver Bullet - 53.56, handily; Miss Lover Lover - 51.05, handily; Erin Dancer - 56.61, pacing; Morgan Heritage - 59.98, pacing; Entertainer - 58.25, pacing.

1000 METRES: Sugar Mike - 1:02.44, good; Not This Time - 1:02.60, good; Phantom Bidder - 1:03.34, good; Chief Commander - 1:03.47, good; Super Grey - 1:03.70, good; Massoud and Porto Cervo - 1:06.05, handily; Celebrity Jet and Lit D’Amour - 1:06.34, handily; Twice Infallible - 1:08.34, handily; Dauntless Hero - 1:05.25, handily; Takeover - 1:04.25, handily; Squee Zintru - 1:07.54, handily; Arts And Lovers - 1:08.82, handily; Attrainees - 1:09.99, handily; Over And Above - 1:14.65, pacing.