Mucho Tempo jams ‘em in UPTC Guineas

MUCHO TEMPO literally destroyed his 12 rivals in winning the feature Union Park Turf Club Guineas Trophy at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday. Held in the shade of the pacemakers from the start, jockey Rajpaul Rajkumar  sent his charge to tackle leader French Academy 200 metres from the finish of the 1800 metres race worth $75,000 to the winning owner, and he accelerated to romp away to a comfortable four-and-a-half-length victory. Now owners Merlin Samlalsingh and Rupert Leong Poi have a shot at winning their second triple crown in as many years, following on the success of Top Of The Class.

French Academy with Wilmer Galviz astride yesterday, tracked early leader Malanie My Love before taking over 300 metres out. But when tackled by Mucho Tempo, the John O’Brien-trained filly had no answer whatsoever. The game filly Melanie My Love held on for third with the improving Fast Company trailing in fourth. Last season’s “Horse of the Year” Sugar Mike made a winning return to racing after his Sandy Lane Gold Cup debacle in neighbouring Barbados. The sweet one, giving away weight to his five rivals, after tracking leader Outswinger for most of the 1750 metres,  was pushed into the lead 400 metres out and ran on resolutely to hold off a late challenge from Phantom Bidder.

The race was robbed of some lustre, however, as apprentice Gary Laban was unseated from Daredevil Hero at the start, and the young rider took no further part in the day’s racing. Champion jockey Brian Harding had a excellent day in the saddle, landing four winners on the day’s 11-race programme, while apprentice Gary Laban and Venezuelan rider Wilmer Galviz had two winners each. Visiting South African rider Julien Gadsby showed his skill in getting Indian Decision first home in the day’s final race, the King Sailor Trophy. There were some stunning upsets on the day’s programme with the biggest coming in the last race won by Indian Decision for a tote dividend of $30.50 and $4.60.

Another shock winner was Return To Glory who returned $29.60 and $4.90 on the tote. But despite it all, the biggest trifecta dividend came on the Game High, Hyarima and Renaissance Man combination — $1,875.00, and with Cornerstone finishing fourth, the superfecta paid $4,642.70, also the best of the day. There was another handsome superfecta dividend in the finale on the Indian Decision, New Star, Life In Russia and City Of Lights combo — $3,897.40. Racing will continue on Saturday at the same venue with a proposed ten-race programme.