Blast from the past at Arima today

TODAY’S 10-race Guardian Hold-ings Limited-sponsored Boxing Day racing carnival is shaping up to be a Blast from the Past. Back home after several racing seasons are Tyrone Harding, Richard Dos Ramos and ex-champion rider Emile Ramsammy who all campaigns in Canada, and Raymond Ganpath who does his riding in New York. This quartet will challenge the current crop of riders at the final meeting of the 2004 racing season. The feature Guardian Life Gold Cup over 2000 metres and which carries a total purse of $125,000 looks to be in the pocket of owner Bertwin “Mike” Samlalsingh by way of his Sugar Mike.

This son of Ponche/No Sugar will be on a recovery mission, having been beaten into third place in the recent Trintrac Ltd Stewards’ Cup Trophy sprint over 1200 metres. In that race, he spotted the winner Cash Wager 7.5 kilos and they are now at level weights 56 kilos. Sugar Mike also went into the Stewards’ Cup under a cloud, and it was to his credit to finish third. So it is to be assumed Sugar Mike will be the pre-race favourite to take the $75,000 winner’s prize. The co-features are the Guardian Life St Ann’s Stakes and Guardian Life St James Stakes for two year-old fillies, colts and geldings over 1350 metres. In the St Ann’s it looks an open and shut case for Arts And Lovers, but turfites must be wary of the improving Footwork, Flying Millie, Joy and the proven Luann’s Passion.

On The Mark ran two great career races, both times beaten by Arts And Lovers, and will be highly fancied to take the St James. But he has most to fear from Lil Maniram My Boy who won in commanding style last time. Speculation is that all is not well with this Maniram “Boboy” Maha-raj-trained youngster. The vastly improved Crown Point could also land the $45,000 first prize in this race, as well as Kylie Wylie with Flying The Flag a live outsider. Having said all that, turfites should put their money with confidence on On The Mark. There are a number of other races on the programme which will prove headaches for turfites, but the lucky ones will be laughing all the way to the bank.