Bright King to ascend Sian’s Gold throne

GET ready to place Bright King on the throne of the feature First Citizens Sian’s Gold Sprint at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, as the new Arima Race Club season gallops off today. But it will not be a walk in the park victory for the three-year-old son of Bright Launch/Smart Queen, as the 1100 metres race on the turf with a purse of $75,000  has attracted an entry of nine other fleet-footed horses. The Harold Chadee-owned and trained bay colt, with new Jamaica jockey champion Brian Harding in his saddle, will have to hold off last year’s race winner Twice Infallible, top creole sprinter Man Of Class, Salsa Moves, Sunday Jewel and three-year-old filly Enchanted Lake. All For Java should make it six victories in six starts by taking the First Citizens First Classic Trophy over 1100 metres on the turf course. It looks like a battle for second in this race with a purse of $50,000 between the two-year-old prince’s stablemate Greek Princess, Sara’s Music who disappointed in the Guardian Life St James Stakes, Fun Time a huge flop in the Guardian Life St Ann’s Stakes and the highly thought-of Sky High.

To add spice to today’s 10-race First Citizens $250,000-sponsored programme, three races have been set aside for a Jockeys Championship for which there has been a “foreign invasion.” Jockeys have been selected in teams of two with Brian Harding and Raymond Ganpath representing Foreign T&T; Joshua Stephen and Ricky Jadoo (Local T&T); Nobel Abrego (South America); Dane Nelson, O’Neil Mullings (Jamaica); Patrick Husbands, Jonathan Jones (Barbados); Richard dos Ramos and Julia Brimo (Canada). At stake will be $3,000 to the winners; with the runners-up getting $2,000; third $1,500; fourth $1,300; fifth $1,200 and sixth $1,000. Local turfites will see Canada’s first-ever woman jockey in action in the three special jockeys races —Race 5; Race 8 and Race 9.

Meanwhile, Royal Oak Derby runner-up Crown Point makes an early seasonal appearance in the First Citizens Caribbean Turf Championship over 1800 metres on the turf, and should be followed with confidence. Also holding the engagement are Jamaican-bred Uram, a winner on Boxing Day last, the improved Chief Commander, Privilege and Captain America along with ex-derby winner Carnival Messiah. The First Citizens E First Trophy Starter Allowance race over 1350 metres promises to be a dandy. Lekh Raj a noted flier, Reef Knot, Latonia, Ascot Kate Dinner Silence, Marci’s Dream and Movietowne Magic will be in the field of 12 runners. The choice should be the three-year-old Bobby Persad owned and trained Lekh Raj, but he must fear Movietowne Magic, Dinner Silence and Latonia. The First Citizens Neo Trophy for West Indian-bred three-year-olds over 1200 metres is a very open affair but Si Senor, Millicent and Magic Moments should take a hand in the finish.