French Academy heads Guineas list

Gleneagle Stakes winner French Academy is among a list of 22 runners for which second subscriptions have been paid for the Guineas to be run on May 31. The daughter of Louis Quatorze/Hermosa scored an impressive victory in the 1800 metres event for fillies on Saturday. She was among the lot which which stood their ground by paying the $400 fees to be eligible to race in the first of the three classics representing the triple crown. The Alwin Poon Tip-owned filly is among a trio of runners which will represent the barn of leading trainer John O’Brien. The ex-president of the Arima Race Club other hopefuls are Privilege and Take Over.

Also subscribing to the 1750 contest won last year by Top Of The Class are ante-post favourites Mucho Tempo, Pave the Way, Kato and Over And Above. Harriram Gobin, who conditioned Mucho Tempo to overturn the odds on Pave The Way in the Flamingo Stakes last month has also paid the fees for Adoring Ruby and Yashoda. Trainer Glenn Mendez, who has won the event, first, in 2001 with Carnival Messiah and again with Top Of The Class last season has four runners on the list. The champion trainer will try for a repeat in the staying contest shifted from Easter Monday to Arrival Day with Golden Eye, JD’s Express, Nowornever and Second Chances. 

Pave The Way and Over And Above are Grant Lourenco and Jack Debideen sole representatives, while young trainer, Kenneth De Silva Jr, will try to lift the prestigious event with Kato and Mayaro Breeze. The kitty which saw 34 runners contributing $20,000 at the initial stage  reached $29,000 after the second round. Fees of $400 for the final stage becomes due on May, 17.

Following are the horses for which second  subscriptions have been paid: ADORING RUBY, BANDIKOOT, FAST COMPANY, FLYING EAGLE, FRENCH ACADEMY, GOLDEN EYE, JAVA IN STYLE, JD’s GREAT, KATO, MAYARO BREEZE, MELANIE MY LOVE, MUCHO TEMPO, MURPHY’S LAW, NOWORNEVER, OVER AND ABOVE, PAVE THE WAY, PRIVILEGE, PURE DELIGHT, SEAHAM HARBOUR, SECOND CHANCES, TAKEOVER, YASHODA.