Sugar Mike totes 60.5 in ARC Cup

TWO-TIME “Horse of the Year” Sugar Mike has been slapped with maximum 60.5 kilos (133lbs) in the Arima Race Club Cup Handicap, feature race on the Arima Race Club Easter Monday (March 28) racing carnival. The American-bred son of Ponche/No Sugar will be giving away lumps of weight to his five rivals in the 1800 metres race on the main track. The handicappers Robin Jaisingh, John Maingot and Wayne Shockness are asking the Grant Lourenco-trained champion to give away eight kilos to Outswinger (52.5) and a maximum 16.5 kilos to bottom weight Dottie’s Way (44). When the handicappers met yesterday, one horse was withdrawn from the race, Gray Warrior.

In the other handicap event on Easter Monday, Fortunate Flag who is without a win for the past two seasons so far, was saddled with the topweight of 58.5 kilos in the Restricted Handicap sprint over 1100 metres on the turf course. This five-year-old is being asked to dish out between 2.5 kilos to fleet-footed Salsa Moves and 14.5 kilos to Tricky Guy at the foot of the handicap. The sub-plots on the day’s ten-race programme are the Ibis Stakes for three-year-old fillies over 1350 metres, and the Flamingo Stakes for three-year-old colts and geldings over a similar trip. Nine fillies will challenge two-year-old queen Arts And Lovers, including Hollywood Heidi for which a $3,600 penalty was paid at the final subscription stage.

Here are the weights for the handicaps:
ARIMA RACE CLUB CUP — Sugar Mike 60.5; Outswinger 52.5; Fantastic Story 52; Cash Wager 51.5; This Cat Is Back 48.5; Dottie’s Way 44.
RESTRICTED HANDICAP — Fortunate Flag 58.5; Salsa Moves 56; Rhythm Divine 55.5; Life In The Sky 53.5; Smooth Operator 53.5; Golden Honour 52.5; Naturelly Classy 58.5; Lady Rossie 47.5; First Time 46; Travel Agent 45; Tricky Guy 44.