Sugar Mike is golden again!

SUGAR MIKE made hacks of his five rivals in winning the feature Guardian Life Gold Cup over 2000 metres on Guardian Holdings Limited-sponsored Arima Race Club Boxing Day carnival at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday. Once again Bertwin “Mike” Samlalsingh’s American-bred five-year-old colt proved he is without challenge as the best horse in training on the local horse racing circuit. Always close up, regular rider Brian Harding pushed the son of Ponche/No Sugar into the lead 400 metres out and the “Sugar Daddy” kicked clear to score readily by four-and-a-half lengths to give his connections the first prize money of $75,000.

Last year’s triple crown winner Top Of The Class ran a creditable race to finish second. Arts And Lovers romped to an easy victory in the Guardian Life St Ann’s Stakes over 1350 metres. This filly, winning for the fourth time on the trot and fifth in six starts — she was second in the other — gave Harding (B) the first of his “big race” double. The daughter of Gilgamesh/Sizzling was kept on the heels of early leaders Bankers Bid and Footwork, and when given her head 400 metres out, strode clear despite a big effort by Flying Millie who was an early backmarker.

First time starter The Night Man scored a stunning upset by winning the Guardian Life St James Stakes also over 1350 metres. This Gilgamesh/Crescendo colt trained by Cyril “Patch” Arneaud, the top priced yearling at the 2002 Carib Stud Farm Association Sales, raced in mid-division until 500 metres out and when veteran rider Vaughn “Jahous” Charles sent him about his business, he scooted clear, annihilating his field by an emphatic 10 1/4 lengths. Crown Point ran on from behind to take second with Little Maniram My Boy who was under a cloud all last week, finishing third. Pre-race favourite On The Mark trailed in a well beaten sixth in the $75,000 race. Emile Ramsammy, back home on a busman’s holiday, brought all his riding skills to bear in landing Fabulous Risk a head winner of the Life Care Quantum Starter Allowance over 1200 metres.

And another of the four jockeys who returned home from Canada and the US, Richard dos Ramos landed Bold Fapp, a chance ride as Gary Laban was ill, winner of the Legacy two-year-old and over optional claiming race over 1350 metres. Trainer John O’Brien retained his title saddling one winner on the day in Fabulous Risk to finish the season on 43, one more than rival Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj who also saddled Copy Cat to win. But the leading trainers on the day were Harold Chadee and Jack Debideen who both had two winners each. Harding (B), already assured of the jockeys title, booted home three winners, while Ricky Jadoo had two on the day’s ten-race programme.