Man of Class continues to impress

MAN OF CLASS never seems to run a bad race, and it is a feather in trainer Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj’s cap in  keeping the five-year-old fresh and eager to compete. The gelded son of Bandsman has raced on 25 occasions since being acquired by the astute trainer last year, and continues to be a standard bearer of the stable with the green and white silks. Since the start of the current racing season Man Of Class, a  strapping  individual, faced the starter 17 times in races ranging in distance from 1100 metres to the extended 1800 metres. And this genuine sort won  three of those races, was runner-up in seven, third in three and fourth once for earnings of $111,507.

Man Of Class scored his third victory only last weekend and the manner in which he enjoyed going  through his paces yesterday suggests he can rack up a back-to-back victories in the curtain event on the Arima Race Club’s ten-race Bookmakers Association of Trinidad and Tobago West Indies Thoroughbred Association Classic Day programme at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, tomorrow. Appearing late in the second session Man Of Class did some light pace work on the backstretch before quickening up from the corner to hit the winning line in in 24.08 seconds. Miss Lover Lover, one of his eight rivals in the Starter Allowance race, was another to show some fire in her work yesterday. Galloping  the last 800 metres of  the sand course, the Edmund De Freitas-trained filly sped over the distance in 50.92 seconds.

Following are gallops recorded yesterday:
400 METRES: Ring Dang Do - 23.89, good; Running Trick - 23.70, good; Man Of Class - 24.08, good; Groomsman - 25.33, handily; Francesca - 23.99, good. Invincibility - 29.90, pacing; Green Light - 26.95, handily; Mutola - 26.90, handily; Ex Narciss Toi and Generous Gift - 29.96, pacing; Bon Voyage - 25.01, easy; Final Set - 27.95, easy (Boxes); Hearts On Fire - 28.99, easy (Boxes); Evil Kneevel and Trini To D Bone - 28.99, pacing.
600 METRES: Game High - 35.73, good; Jay Low - 44.98, pacing; Isle Be True - 41.16, easy; Chief Commander, Takeover, Angelino and Privilege - 38.48, handily; Principle - 44.98. pacing; Lovely Pearl - 38.98, handily; Grey Warrior - 38.67, handily; El Guerrouj - 38.17, handily; Indian Game - 38.52, handily; Ichiban - 42.42, pacing; Fresh Mandate - 44.99, pacing; Magen - 36.36, ridden out; Dragon Lady and Bold Woman - 44.91, pacing; Spin N’ Squeeze - 43.32, pacing; Explosive Suzie - 40.71, handily.

800 METRES: Phantom Bidder - 54.31, handily; Premier Attraction - 59.96, pacing; Miss Lover Lover - 50.92, good; Le Fabulex Dancer - 53.21, handily; Indian Trouble - 58.23, pacing; Ex Iador and Peace Of Mind - 59.12, pacing; Smart And Lucky - 51.28, handily

1000 METRES: Full Of Promises - 1:10.64, pacing; Ex Smoothawn and Ex Cabaret - 1:10.46, pacing; Tuzamy and Fabulous Risk - 1:12.42, pacing.
1200 METRES: Skye Skipper - 1:24.78 - pacing.