Top Of The Class flogs rivals in WITRA Classic

CLASSY Top Of The Class gave his three-year-old peers another convincing beating to take the fifth running of the feature Bookmaker’s Association of Trinidad and Tobago West Indies Thoroughbred Racing Association race at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday. “The Student” gave another fluent display, making most of the running to finish five-and-a-half lengths clear of Super Grey who tried to match strides with him in the early going of the 2000 metres run. But when regular partner Ricky Jadoo asked the son of Freshly Squeezed/Crescendo to quicken 600 metres out, he accelerated readily to leave Super Grey as though standing to give co-owners Merlin Samlalsingh and Rupert Leong Poi another $72,000 cheque. Victory for the triple crown hero trained by Glenn Mendez brought his career earnings to $363,350 in eight starts, and he will now be pointed for the Caribbean Champion Stakes over 1800 metres on November 29.

When Brian Harding guided Skylite to victory in the Stud Farm Association of Trinidad and Tobago Breeders Stakes for two-year-olds horses over 1200 metres, he was winning for the 700th time in his career. This son of Resarching/Java scooted clear of her field to score by two-and-a-quarter lengths. And in the very next event Harding lifted his tally to 701, when he landed Tora Bora winner of the Fair Chance Racing Service Port-of-Spain Handicap over 1300 metres. But apprentice rider Gary Laban shared the spotlight with the more experienced Harding, he too landing two winners on the day’s 10-race programme. No trainer managed to saddle more than one winner yesterday , but it will be a day to remember for Ian Danglade who saddled his first when Running Trick won the opener, the Goodwood Racing Service Tunapuna 1600 metres turf event for three-year-old maidens.

Running Trick rewarded backers with $41.40 and $7.90 on the tote, best on a very moderaate day which saw no trifecta topping $300, while only one superfecta dividend went over the $500 mark. The combination of Tora Bora, Fresh Mandate, Phenomenon and Hollywood Star gave turfites $707.40. Next raceday, Day 34 of the Arima Race Club season, will be on Saturday when the Handicap 1 and Lower for three-year-old and over West Indies bred and imported two-year-olds worth $32,000 over 1750 metres will be the feature.