Lourenco clueless on Sugar Mike’s debacle

TRAINER Grant Lourenco was taken aback by the poor showing of Sugar Mike in the Sandy Lane Gold Cup at the Garrison Savannah, Bridgetown, Barbados, on Saturday. He said he could not pinpoint the reason for the five-year-old’s dismal performance. Lourenco who returned home on Sunday and was overseeing preparation of his runners at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday morning tried to give an insight into what might have been the reason for Sugar Mike’s flop, finishing one from last in the 11-horse field, in the 1800 metres event worth Bds$200,000. Sugar Mike was installed second favourite behind Sharp Impact to win the race which featured runners from Canada, Martinique, the United States and the host country. Lourenco said Sugar Mike was off  well wth the rest of  the field, but  stumbled after he got knocked around at the first turn and never laid out properly, thereafter, in the biggest horserace  in the English-speaking Caribbean.

He said rain fell regularly during the week and with the ground holding, it didn’t help his charge’s cause. The young trainer said, what was of importance though, was champion jockey Brian Harding realised all hopes of getting among the big  prize money had gone in the latter stages of the event, he was not harsh on Sugar Mike and saved him for the days ahead. Lourenco said apart from his failure, Sugar Mike came out of the race none the worse for the experience and is expected to return to the Santa Rosa Park paddock either tomorrow or Thursday. Asked if he will have another crack at the event next year with the five-year-old bay colt voted “2003 Horse Of The Year” if  he remains in training. Lourenco grinned and answered: “That decision is not mine. It is left entirely up to the owner.” The 23rd running of the Caribbean’s premier horserace  was won by American-bred Kathir, who had been campaigning in Dubai and the United States. The seven-year-old son of Woodman/Alcando won from Fleet On Flames, Talkaboutlucky and Storm Hunter. The last TT runner to win the Gold Cup was Call To Account in 1988.