Lourenco sharpens up President’s trio

TRAINER Grant Lourenco is leaving no stone unturned in getting his three stable stars, Sugar Mike, Fantastic Story and Invincibility, ready for the President’s Cup Handicap on Emanicpation Day, August, 2. The young conditioner was seen moving with spring in his steps at the exercise course at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday, monitoring the workouts of the trio expected to be top fancied in the 1900 metres event  which will share spotlight with the Oaks on the Arima Race Club 10-race programme on Monday.

Fantastic Story the youngest of the candidates, continued to raise eyebrows with the manner in which he goes through his assignments. Apprentice Gary Laban who will be aboard the three-year-old son of Atticus/Romantic in the Group One race over 1900 metres, asked his mount to quicken from the 1000 metres marker in the backstretch and he bowled along fluently to maintain steady fractions of around 12 second to the furlong to complete the gallop  in 59.93 seconds.

Invincibility who scored an impressive victory in the Santa Rosa Dash but was shrugged off by Sugar Mike when upped in distance in a Stakes and Lower Handicap earlier this month, had the easiest of preparation among the trio. Lourenco who had trained the four-year-old to be more settled with long light pace work previously, again sat aboard the Junior Sammy-owned colt, increasing his workrate over 1000 metres in a handy 1:04.40 seconds. Sugar Mike who lost his unbeaten run on the sand course over 1200 metres to Invincibility, but regained the winning thread in his next start over 1750 metres, carried top condition. The “Horse Of The Year” sharpened his edges with raceday rider Brian Harding aboard over the 1200 metres course in a healthy 1:13.17 seconds.

Alert The Ship who will also be in the line-up in the “big race” worth $75,000, was schooled from the boxes and covered the last 1200 metres in 1:15.20 seconds. Also seen out on the morning fine-tuning their acts for their run on the next Friday Lime card to be staged on August 13 were several unraced juveniles. The majority were sent to the boxes to acquire certificates. Trainer Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj, who dominated the early two-year-old events last year has his string well advanced and seems on course to do the same again this season. Four from his lot pleased yesterday, among which were an un-named daughter of Bob’s Passion and a son of Donnybrook, who posted 37.36 between the 1200 and 600 metre markers, and a son of Dromello who clocked 36.47 seconds to have the better of a daughter of Kamakura who followed him in 37.46 seconds. Also showing some fire was Arts And Lovers from the Harold Chadee barn.

Here are gallops recorded yesterday:
400 METRES: V For Victory - 24.32, good; Final Set - 23.31, good; Ex Samana - 25.13, handily (Boxes): Regent Boy - 27.03, handily. Sure Honey - 29.61, pacing; Ex Bunny Blue Flag, It’s Showtime and Ex So Rare - 28.69, pacing; Skye Skipper - 29.84, pacing; 2Sharp - 29.08, pacing; Yankee Eagle - 28.16, pacing; Bandinthong - 29.18, pacing; Kato - 28.98, pacing; Ula - 29.98, pacing; Pistol Pete - 28.44, pacing.

600 METRES: Aishwarya - 37.23, good; Murphy’s Law and Preffered Share - 36.51, good; Bob’s Passion and Ex Donnybrook - 37.36, good (Boxes); Ex Dormello - 36.47, good (Boxes); Ex Kamakura, Arts and Lovers, Fiery Bay and Wise Decision - 37.46, handily (Boxes). Chief Of Staff - 38.83, handily; Buffalo Soldier - 37.83, handily; Takeover - 3920, handily; Arumur - 39.21, handily; Sou Sou Moni - 41.00, handily; Bound To Fly - 39.50, ridden out; Bold Fapp - 37.83, handily; Ex Dinner Silence and Ex Valid Krissy - 40.78, handily; Maid Of Honour - 39.28, handily; Attrainees - 38.43, handily; Entertainer - 42.70, pacing; Kavita Nadira - 44.99, pacing; Fortunate Flag - 42.06, pacing; Java Takeover - 44.90, pacing; Sure Park and Behind The Bridge - 44.92, pacing; Ex Alayyam and Border Dispute - 44.69, pacing.

800 METRES: Naturelly Classy - 50.92, good; Phantom Bidder - 53.30, handily; Isle Be True -53.33, handily; Outswinger - 52.93, handily; Explosive Suzie - 54.45, handily; Royal Miss - 55.46, handily; Reign Of Fire - 57.02, pacing; Chief Commander - 59.95, pacing; Cat Woman - 56.99, pacing; Redoubled - 59.98, pacing; Private Affair - 57.82, pacing; Vitesse Triomphe - 56.40, pacing; Saucy Wow - 56.06, pacing; Tricky Guy - 56.18, pacing; Hyarima - 59.99, pacing.

1000 METRES: Fantastic Story - 59.93, good; Tactical Bid - 1:02.37, good; Twice The Jet - 1:03.73, good; Ex In And Out and Ex Angel Again - 1:08.57, handily; Silve Bullet - 1:07.47, handily; Invincibility - 1:04.40, handily; French Academy - 1:06.54, handily; Dare To Dream - 1:08.56, handily; Miss Julie - 1:07.68, handily; Seaham Harbour and Cinco De Mayo - 1:05.75, handily; Top Of The Class - 1:09.24, easy; Pattie’s No Angel - 1:08.54, handily; Blondie - 1:14.99, pacing; Travel Agent - 1:10.77, pacing; Return To Sender - 1:10.56, pacing.

1200 METRES: Sugar Mike - 1:13.17, good; Alert The Ship and Stonebright - 1:15.20, good (Boxes); Lady Rossie - 1:17.70, good.

1400 METRES: Yashoda - 1:30.50, handily: Fran’s Choice - 1:33.90, handily.