Juveniles upstage Top Of The Class

Top Of The Class, set to make an  appearance in the West Indian Thoroughbred Racing Association Classic on Saturday, before his attempt at the Caribbean Champion Stakes on November 29 was the focus of attention on the gallops course at Santa Rosa Park, Arima yesterday. The triple crown winner scorched the track when he recorded one of the fastest 1000 metres gallops leading up to the Royal Oak Derby but disappointed railbirds on Sunday, choosing instead to do light pace work with raceday rider Ricardo Jadoo aboard. The Glenn Mendez trainee, who has already raked in the $250,000 bonus from CLICO for scoring victories in the Easter Guineas, Midsummer Classic and Derby, and stands to add a further $750,000 from the insurance giant if he could add the Caribbean Champion Stakes to his resume. He looked in great shape, stretching his legs over 1200 metres in one minute 21.90 seconds.  

But while the likely “Horse Of The Year” chose to stay on easy street, some juvenile runners eyeing the $75,000 purses in the Stud Farm Association Stakes had different ideas and were seen sharpening up for the 1200-metres supporting highlight on Saturday’s 10-race card. Jay Low and Atlantic Breeze, Skylite, Return To Sender, and Seaham Harbour were among the babes to produce exciting performances. Jay Low and Atlantic Breeze, from champion trainer John O’Brien’s barn breezed the last 600 metres of the left-handed course in 36.27 seconds. Skylite, who scored first time asking and ran a corker to finish fourth behind Melanie My Love in the Nursery Stakes on her return from the injury, went lively with older stablemate Full Of Promises over 800 metres in 51.56 seconds. Return To Sender, hailing out of Jack Debideen’s stable has not run up to her true mark in two starts but seemed to have learnt for those experiences. The Bernard Dulal-Whiteway-owned filly  went exceptionally well under Ricardo Jadoo in her 800 metres spin covered in 50.45 seconds

The once raced Seaham Harbour, working over the same acreage, registered an easy looking 51.60 seconds. Pyrite Tale and an unraced son of Ms DD Walton continue to raise eyebrows. The imported pair of juveniles from Grant Lourenco’s yard schooled from the boxes and matched strides between the 1200 and 800 metre markers in an impressive 22.75 seconds. Also pleasing connections on the morning was Alert The Ship and Without Proof, Finest Gem and Fantastic Lad, Upset All, Joan Of Arc, Miss Lover Lover, Pile Of Cash and Highness, Skye Skipper, and Kaser’s Gold.   

Following are the recorded gallops yesterday:
400 METRES: Ex DD Walton and Pyrite Tale - 22.75, good. Dottie’s Way - 27.95, pacing; Danze With Class - 26.23, handily; Green Light - 27.40, handily; Billy Button - 26.42, handily; Mayaro Breeze and Kato - 26.40, handily; Bandinthong - 28.98, pacing; What Left - 26.07, handily.
600 METRES: Alert The Ship and Whitout Profit - 37.06, good; Jay Low and Atlantic Breeze - 36.27, good; Finest Gem and Fantastic Lad - 35.86, good; Upset All - 36.56, good; Joan Of Arc - 36.36, good; Sure Ting - 44.76, pacing; Isle Be True - 44.37, pacing; Ex Tiyana and Little Master - 39.03, handily; Isle Be There and Tazumy - 37.73, handily; Francesca - 37.38, handily; Selah Boy - 42.46, pacing; Peace Majesty - 38.70, handily; Love Till I Die - 42.21, pacing; Ex Cabaret and Ooze - 44.43, pacing; Yaa Asantewaa and Tora Bora - 38.23, handily: Song Of Freedom - 40.14, easy; Fabulex - 43.03, pacing; Khonis, Samana Song and Heart’s of Fire - 44.99, pacing; Ex Lalapaloosa and Space Cadet - 37.77, handily; Ex Smoothawn - 37.70, handily (Boxes); Indian Game - 43.67, pacing; Takeover, Eura Star, Privilege and Angelino - 39.92, handily.
800 METRES: Return To Sender - 50.45, good; Miss Lover Lover - 48.31, good; Pile Of Cash and Highness - 49.49, good; Skye Skipper - 49.42, good; Seaham Harbour - 51.60, good; Beautiful Mind and Champagne Wager - 52.95, handily; Phantom Menace - 52.65, handily; Ocean Surf - 51.11, handily; Stormy Season - 52.87, handily; Running Trick - 51.18, handily; Skylite and Full Of Promises - 51.56, handily; Fromnowuntil - 56.05, pacing; Explosive Suzie - 53.14, handily; Millenium Reign - 52.71, handily; Underdinfluence - 55.86, pacing. Florida Flame - 52.38, handily.
1000 METRES: Kaser’s Gold - 103.84, good; Soul Asylum - 1:03.96, good; Hundred Percent - 1:05.57, handily; Royal Red and Fabulous Risk - 1:04.63, handily; Sugar Mike - 1:11.69, pacing; Mutola and Golden Honour - 1:05.00, handily; Notanothernoble - 1:07.23, handily; Indian Decision - 1:07.75, handily; Upset All - 1:04.43, handily;Millenium Dancer - 1:05.03, handily; You’ve Got Mail and Celebration Time - 1:08.42, easy. Tricky Guy - 1:14.00, pacing.
1200 METRES: Top Of The Class - 1:21.90, easy; Over And Above - 1:28.87, pacing.