Top Of The Class ready for return

TOP OF THE CLASS, given a break after a solid performance behind Sugar Mike in the Guardian Gold Cup on Boxing Day, looked in fine fettle on the exercise course at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday. The triple crown winner never fails to please at gallops, and it was no different on the sloppy ground conditions on which he posted a comfortable 50.53 seconds over 800 metres. It was the first open gallop for the Glenn Mendez-trained colt, who is being prepared to start his 2004 campaign, before tackling the top horses in the Eric “Colt” Durant Memorial Handicap on May 31. Napoleon, another creole to have held his own in major sprint races against the top bracket also looked in good niche. The Jack Debideen-trained grey had his problems with injury and  has been sparingly raced since his return.

But the Balkrishen Sagan Maraj-owned five-year-old showed he has not lost his zip, drilling the last 600 metres of  the main course in 36.09 seconds. Rocket Booster has had some pleasant gallops on the sand course but is yet  to carry those performances into her races. The Edmund De Freitas-trained three-year-old was again in focus, breezing the last 600 metres of the course in 35.93 seconds, which proved best on the morning. Other notable gallops in both sessions on the morning came from Movietowne Magic, Silver Bullet, Final Set, Rebel Music, Florida Fame and Storming Wind over 400 metres, Mayaro Breeze, Return To Sender, Life In The Sky, Miss Julie, Tora Bora, Runaway Rocket and Joint Account over 600 metres, and You’ve Got Mail, Tricky Guy and Royal Miss over 800 metres.

Gallops recorded yesterday:
 
400 METRES: Movietowne Magic - 23.41, good; Silver Bullet and Final Set - 24.51, good; Rebel Music - 24.02, good; Florida Fame - 24.64, good; Storming Wind - 24.78, good; Smart And Lucky - 26.17, handily; Arumur - 26.24, handily; Champagne Wager - 28.97, pacing; Ghost Meadow - 28.96, pacing; Piece Of Cake - 26.68, handily; Honour Bound - 28.29, pacing.

600 METRES: Rocket Booster - 35.93, good; Napoleon - 36.09, good; Mayaro Breeze - 36.56, good; Miss Julie better than Tora Bora - 36.16, good (Boxes); Return To Sender better than  Life In The Sky - 36.76, good;  Runaway Rocket and Joint Account - 37.24, handily (Boxes); Ballybunion - 39.27, handily; Lady Banker - 41.85, pacing; Lit D’Amour and This Cat Is Back - 40.86, handily; Hundred Percent - 41.02, handily; Phenomenon - 42.33, pacing; Fast Company - 44.96, pacing; Philadelphian - 39.02, handily; Isle Be True - 43.31, pacing; Mary Magdalene - 39.74, handily; Speed At Last and Atlantic Breeze - 40.10, handily; Bold Brush - 38.26, handily.

800 METRES: You’ve Got Mail - 49.13, good; Tricky Guy - 50.97, good; Top Of The Class - 50.53, good; Royal Mist - 50.61, good; Maid Of Honour - 51.09, handily; Comanchero and Chief Commander - 51.32, handily; Soca Monarch and Embeded Option - 59.54, pacing; Sou Sou Moni - 59.27, pacing; Blondie - 52.12, handily; El Guerrouj - 51.33, handily; Tea Time Doc - 59.07, pacing; Preffered Share - 53.38, handily.

1000 METRES: Chief Of Staff - 1:03.97, good; Over And Above - 1:07.59, handily; Sky Storm Rising - 1:07.25, handily; Fortunate Flag - 1:10.06, pacing; Vitesse Triomphe - 1:06.87, handily; Attitude - 1:10.13, pacing; Premier Attraction - 1:08.09, handily; Takeover - 1:14.16, pacing; Bold Fapp - 1:07.04, handily; Francesca - 1:04.20, handily.

1600 METRES: Tactical Bid - 1:51.35, pacing.