Top Of The Class set for pipe opener

TOP OF THE CLASS continues to show good form in his exercises on the gallops course, and appears to be rounding into top shape for the Eric “Colt” Durant Memorial Handicap on May 31. The triple crown winner paced 1200 metres on Sunday morning in 1:23.25 seconds and returned yesterday to cover 1600 metres in 1:44.32 seconds after warming up over the first 400 metres in 29.86 seconds. The four-year-old was given a vacation on the farm after a fruitful 2003 season in which he won $448,000 in stakes money and captured CLICO’s $1 million bonus for winning the Easter Guineas, Midsummer Classic, Royal Oak Derby and Caribbean Champion Stakes.

His preparations seem geared towards a pipe-opener among the Allowance group over 1750 metres when racing resumes on May 15. Stable-companion Nowornever was also given stamina work yesterday. This three-year-old for which second subscription of $400 was paid for the Guineas on Arrival Day (May 31), posted a 1:51.45 seconds clocking over the same trip as his more illustrious stablemate. Rebel Music, Phantom Bidder, Soul Asylum, Morgan Heritage, Imasekha and Antara were among the lot to perform creditably on Sunday. Here are gallops recorded yesterday:  400 METRES: Mandela - 29.92, pacing; Buffalo Soldier - 29.97, pacing; Lovetillidie 0 29.99, pacing; Atlantic Breeze - 29.88, pacing.

600 METRES: Carefree - 39.49, handily.

800 METRES: Return To Sender - 56.02, easy.

1000 METRES: Blue Reign - 1:10.91, pacing.

1200 METRES: J D Express and 2Sharp - 1:24.31, pacing.

1600 METRES: Top Of The Class - 1:44.32 Good; Nowornever - 1:51.45, handily.

Sunday’s gallops:: 400 METRES: Ballybunion - 28.16, pacing; Rocket Booster - 29.90, pacing; Ice Follies - 29.99, pacing (Boxes).
600 METRES: Rebel Music - 35.46, good (Boxes); Transparency - 39.88, handily; Bound To Dot Com and Bada Bing - 39.48, handily; Samana Song - 39.87, handily; Nowornever - 43.16, pacing; Embedded Option - 44.96, pacing; Preffered Share - 43.42, pacing; Cavita Nareeta - 43.04, pacing; Vitesse Triomphe - 43.50, pacing; Return To Sender - 44.98, pacing; Aticka - 43.76, pacing; Running Trick - 39.84, handily.

800 METRES: Pave The Way and Sugar Mike - 54.69, handily; Mucho Tempo and Phenomenon 55.14, easy; Piece Of Cake and Attitude 51.63, handily; Speed At Last - 54.09, handily; J D Express and 2Sharp - 56.90, pacing; Peace Of Mind - 52.95, handily; Carefree - 59.98, pacing; Ocean Turf - 54.35, handily; Golden Honour - 51.07, handily; Royal Miss - 55.67, pacing; Bold Brush - 59.98, pacing; Smart And Lucky - 59.97, pacing; Final Set - 53.95, pushed out; J D Great - 53.36, handily.

1000 METRES: Soul Asylum - 1:01.17, good and Morgan Heritage - 1:02.13, good. Imasekha and Antara - 1:02.03 good; Phantom Bidder - 1:02.73, good; Sure Wager - 1:04.97, handily; Honor Bound - 1:10.27, pacing; Millenium Reign - 1:05.07, handily; Outswinger - 1:09.69, handily; Mayaro Breeze - 1:06.45, handily.

1200 METRES: Top Of The Class - 1:23.25, pacing; Tractical Bid - 1:18.45, handily.

1600 METRES: Over And Above - 1:54.96, pacing.