Dinner Silence cruises to victory

DINNER SILENCE displayed his undoubted class in disposing of seven rivals in winning the 1100 metres sprint for imported two-year-olds and imported three-year-olds and over maidens on Day 32 of the Arima Race Club season at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday. The American-bred colt tracked leaders Twice The Jet and Miss Julie for most of the trip, and when apprentice Gary Laban unleashed Russell Ramsammy’s bay two-year-old 350 metres out he swept past in cruise control to win eased up by two-and-a-quarter lengths But the day’s honours were shared by owner-trainer-breeder Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj, who saw three of his horses in winner’s enclosure. First he had Jamaican-bred Francesca slam her field in an optional claimer over 1100 metres, then his fleet-footed Salsa Moves, despite a tardy start, whipped his field by one length in a 1200 metres race for West Indies-bred three-year-old non-winners of five career  races, then his Lovetillidie closed the day’s nine-race programme with a half-length victory over West Indies-bred three-year-olds , non-winners of two career races.

Champion jockey Brian Harding after having two rides, missed the rest of the day’s programme, following an attack of the current ‘flu virus.
But paved the way for Lorne Keizer and apprentice Laban to take the spotlight among riders, both landing two winners each. Apart from Maharaj, Glenn Mendez was next best trainer on the day saddling two winners in Dinner Silence and Life In The Sky. Tote dividends were quite good throughout the day with Balthazar opening the day with a payout of $15.70 and $4.90. Turfites were spot on yesterday until the final two races when Life In The Sky won to reward backers with $12.00 and $3.90 on the tote, and together with Carnival Messiah and Squee Zintru returned a dividend of $1,119.60 on the trifecta, and with Bon Voyage fourth $2,572.10 on the superfecta. And in the final event, Lovetillidie paid $13.00 and $3.70 on the tote, and with Born To Charm and Bandikoot, the biggest trifecta of $3,046.60, and with fourth placed Lady Secret, the superfecta dividend was a handsome $11,137.20.