Mandela sinks ‘The Ship’ at Carib ‘Lime’

MANDELA took the lead from the 500 metres marker and cruised to an easy four-length victory over Royal Miss in the feature 1700 metres Aesculapians Starter Allowance race on the turf course at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday. Overwhelming favourite Alert The Ship had every chance, but appeared not to relish the turf and trailed in a well-beaten fourth at the Carib Rugby & Racing Friday Lime in yesterday’s event which carried a total purse of $23,000. But later, there were some very anxious moments for owner-trainer Harold Chadee and turfites, when winner had to survive an objection to keep the $11,000 top slice of the purse.

Mandela rewarded backers with $37.40 on a tote win ticket.  There was only one payment because only five horses ran following the withdrawal of both Dottie’s Way and Phantom Bidder. On an afternoon which provided some big upsets, backers of Mir On Fire who gave  Juan Payano his first winning ride in Trinidad, had all to smile about when the dividends were announced. This five-year-old horse who was winning for only a second time in his career paid $79.70 and $10.60 on the tote. As a result of the upsets, there were several handsome exacta, trifecta and superfecta dividends.

The Peace Majesty-Sunset-Imasekha-El Gringo superfecta combination rewarded “limers” with a dividend of $8,564.90, and the trifecta dividend on the Mandela-Royal Miss-Sure Ting combination paid $3,661.00. There was also an exacta payout of $1,027.40. Odds-on favourite Caribbean Kiss had to rally in the straight to win the Guiana Jaguars Restricted Handicap over 1100 metres, getting home by half length from a fast-finishing Golden Honour. And Lil Maniram My Boy showed his third behind Arts And Lovers and On The Mark on Saturday last was no fluke, when he easily romped to a three-length victory over the two-year-old maidens in the St Vincent race for maiden “babes.” Star rider of the day was Rajpaul Rajkumar who landed two winners, while Douglas Bennett was the top trainer saddling a double.