Ahoy there! Look out for First Mate

TURFITES are urged to keep an eye out for First Mate in her chosen race on Saturday, second day of the new Arima Race Club season at Santa Rosa Park, Arima. This Freshly Squeezed/Aye Aye three-year-old filly blazed a 400 metres gallop in company with the older American-bred Salute The Colours, stopping the clock at 24 .08 second starting from the boxes as trainers continued preparation of their charges. Barbados-bred The Terminator showed a good turn of foot in his gallop also over 400 metres on the main track in a time of 25 saeconds flat. And Fresh Wings, one of Brian Harding’s two winners on the First Citizens “Day at the Races” programme on New Year’s Day holiday Monday last week, showed he has kept his form with a fluent run through 600 metres in the good time of 37.66 seconds.

Lekh Raj showed his natural speed in an 800 metres gallop in a handy 51.20 seconds. But three-year-old importation Divine Glory was a trifle slower getting the distance in 51.71 seconds. Bettering them all, however, was Jamaican-bred Snooky Lou and American-bred Sun Splash who smoked an 800 metres gallop in the excellent time of 49.03 seconds. Both would need watching in their respective races on Saturday at Santa Rosa Park. Blue Reign and Otra Avenida had a handy run over 1000 metres clocked in one minute 06.10 seconds and could spring a surprise in their engagement. And Speed and Frankie Sweetheart were also handy in their gallop over a similar trip in one minute 08.26 seconds.

Yesterday’s gallops: (Going: Fast) - 400 METRES: DUDLEY’S GIRL  - 29.99 pacing; FIRST MATE, SALUTE THE COLOURS  - 24.08 good (boxes); FOOTWORK  - 29.98 pacing; FRESH PROSPECT - 28.43 pacing;  JACOBITE - 29.17 pacing. THE TERMINATOR - 25.00 good; SUPER GREY - 29.97 pacing; TOP OF THE CLASS - 29.89 pacing. 

600 METRES: AS TIME GOES BY - 44.62 pacing; BUCKDEN - 44.22 pacing; FIREPOWER - 40.88 pacing; FRESH WINGS - 37.66 good; NEW STAR - 44.93 pacing.

800 METRES: DIVINE GLORY  - 51.71 handy; KATO = 54.65 pacing; 
LEKH RAJ  - 51.20 handy; MYSTERY GIRL  - 59.99 pacing;  SNOOKY LOU, SUN SPLASH - 49.03 good (ridden).

1000 METRES: BLUE REIGN, OTRA AVENIDA - 1:06.10 handy DARE TO DREAM  - 1:10.95 pacing; SPEED, FRANKIE SWEETHEART - 1:08.26 handy; XQUISITE  - 1:14.32 pacing.