Sugar Mike insured in Guardian Life Gold Cup

SUGAR MIKE could make amends for his shortcomings in the Trintrac Stewards Cup by winning the Guardian Life Gold Cup, feature event on the Guardian Holdings Limited-sponsored Arima Race Club Boxing Day card at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, today. Sugar Mike has dominated racing in the top league last year winning nine of his 10 starts, and for it earned the “Horse Of The Year” title at the annual Jetsam Awards. Among those victories were the two most prestigious races at the back end of the season, the Stewards Cup over 1200 metres, the sprint championship of the Caribbean,  and the Gold Cup over 2000 metres, the energy sapping race which determines the champion stayer.

But while the Bertwin Samlalsingh-owned star had won his fair share of races this season, his strike rate dropped drastically, registering only four wins from seven outings at home, following a dismal display in the Sandy Lane Gold Cup at the Garrison Savannah in Barbados in March. Sugar Mike seemed to be near peak condition preparing for the defence of his sprint title. But the five-year-old was detected with a fever close to the speed contest, which forced his trainer to take measures which  he felt would not have distressed him, and for it may have paid the price of not holding on to the crown. Sugar Mike whose speed has been blunted, failed to go the early pace in the 1200 metres sprint, but showed good heart and fighting qualities to cop third spot behind Cash Wager and Miss Lover Lover, having had to come from last approaching the top turn, and his rider taking the overland route.

That run had no “Tick Fever” marks over it, and could be dispelled, as the recovery period from such an outbreak takes months. After the strong late showing, the follow-up gossip was, “the fever” may have been a “24-hour bug.” The recuperation period since then will make Sugar Mike much stronger and the strapingly-built horse is taken to regain his staying title in today’s 2000 metres Grade One feature on the 10-race programme designed to close off  the 2004 racing season. And his chances has improved greatly, with the original seven-horse field  reduced to just six with the withdrawal yesterday of Phantom Bidder. Cash Wager is thought to be better at sprinting, but the six-year-old, which finished third in this race last year has not lost his coat and has carry himself well at gallops.

Trainer John O’Brien’s hopeful is up in the weights with Sugar Mike but it won’t be a surprise if he etches his name alongside Sian’s Gold, who captured the Sprint/Staying double in 1994 and 1995, and Sugar Mike last year. Outswinger, Fantastic Story, Alert The Ship and Top Of The Class are proven stayers who like to race on the pace and that would create interest from start to finish. The juveniles will also be in the spotlight in two other features over 1350 metres on the programme, with the day’s opener timed to start at noon. The Guardian Life St Ann’s Stakes which has a field of 16 fillies could go to the much improved Arts And Lovers. But the daughter of Gilgamesh/Sizzling, beaten once in five starts, would find the competition much stiffer.

Her main opposition could come from Flying Millie, Joy, and Footwork. In the St James Stakes which also carries the Guardian Life tag, eight colts will go to post. On The Mark which gave Arts And Lovers scares on both occasion they met, and Lil Maniram My Boy, who turned in his maiden certificate with authority earlier this month are expected to head the market. But a good word goes out for Flying The Flag, the mount of ex-champion jockey Emile Ramsammy. Ramsammy who has been among the leading riders at Woodbine Race Track, Canada,  over the years has some interesting bookings.

He will have a field of the pace aboard Fabulous Risk for owner Roland Khan in the Life Care Quantum Starter Allowance, Peace Of Mind for trainer Cyril “Patch” Arneaud in the $7,500 claimer before the main events. He then sits on Really Quiet in the St Ann’s, Flying The Flag in the St James, and closes off his campaign with Alert The Ship in the Gold Cup. Other top riders returning home for the occasion are Richard Dos Ramos and Tyrone Harding, who have been competing at the highest level in Canada, and Raymond Ganpath who is based at Belmont Park, New York, USA.