Twice Infallible does it twice

TWICE INFALLIBLE made most of the running and just held off a fast charging Bright King to score a  repeat in the First Citizens Sian’s Gold Sprint feature on the First Citizens New Year’s Day at the Races card first day of the new Arima Race Club season at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday. Junior Sammy’s five year-old, trained to the minute by Grant Lourenco, scooted out of the starting stalls in the 1100 metres race shifted to a sloppy main track because of heavy and continuous rains which left the turf course dangerous, and just got to the post first by a head from pre-race favourite Bright King ridden by Jamaica jockey champion Brian Harding.

The victory was the third in a row for owner Sammy and trainer Lourenco, having won in 2004 with Invincibility. Earlier in the day, All For Java confirmed his superiority over his just turned three-year-old peers, cruising to victory in the $50,000 First Citizens First Classic Trophy race over 1100 metres. The ShaffiqueKhan-trained Java In Flight/Set All gelding took up the running after 400 metres and champion jockey Wilmer Galviz was just sitting calmly thereafter, despite the semblance of a challange from stablemate Greek Princess who gave the trainer a one-two finish. Fresh Prospect scored a stunning upset in winning the First Citizens Neo Trophy, one of three races for the International Jockeys Championship over 1200 metres.

This son of Freshly Squeezed/Jarana rewarded backers with $16.20 and $4.30 on the tote and with Magic Moments second and Straight Drive third, the trifecta was a good $2,581.60. But with rank outsider Money Up Front finishing fourth, the superfecta dividend gave lucky turfties a handsome New Year’s Day gift of $12,990.90. Crown Point, just robbed of the triple crown last year, scored a fluent victory in the First Citizens Caribbean race over 1800 metres, coming home three and three-quarter lengths ahead of Privilege to give Galviz his second winning ride of the day. The Venezuelan rider shared honours with Harding who won the last two racs on the card and Barbadian jockey Patrick Husbands who rides at Woodbine Racecourse in Canada.