Fantastic Story, Sugar Mike set for ‘PRES’ battle

FANTASTIC STORY and Sugar Mike continue to show good form on the gallops as they prepare to do battle in the President’s Cup at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Emancipation Day, Monday. The pair of Grant Lourenco-trained runners, with their raceday riders aboard yesterday morning, looked in peak condition for what appeared to be their final let-down gallop before the 1900 metres Grade One race, which will share the spotlight with the Chevrolet Oaks Stakes. Fantastic Story with leading apprentice Gary Laban in the irons went at raceday clip, maintaining steady fractions from the 1000 metres marker in the backstretch and the winning line in 1:00.90 seconds. But Sugar Mike looked more robust since his record breaking performance. The Horse Of The Year wasn’t asked any serious questions by champion jockey Brian Harding, who steered him over the last 800 metres of the exercise course in an “easy” 51.06 seconds.

Sure Wager, Aishwarya, Golden Grades and Final Set were others to show they are ready for their respective assignments on the ten-race holiday programme. Sure Wager, who showed good fighting qualities when going under to Twice Infallible on the turf last week maintained his form with a 34.75 posting over the last 600 metres of the sand course. His stablemate Final Set loosed up from the top of the straight to the winning line in 24.54 (400 metres). Aishwarya and Golden Grades went exceptionally well in separate spins from the boxes. Aishwarya went all out between the 1200 and 800 metres markers in 22.70 seconds, while Golden Grades working the same acreage, showed top-class speed for the first 200 metres then his rider dropped his hands. Although eased for half of the trip, the American-bred three-year-old Golden Grades who will be making his debut to local racing on Monday, still managed to clock 23.83 seconds, which attained ‘‘good’’ in the remarks column of the Arima Race Club official clocker’s report.

Here are gallops recorded yesterday: 400 METRES: Aishwarya - 22.70, good (Boxes); Golden Grades - 23.83, good (Boxes); Final Set - 24.54, good; Balthazar - 27.36, handily; Silver Bullet - 25.18, handily; Redoubled - 29.41, pacing; Invincibility - 29.30, pacing; Atlantic Breeze - 28.78, pacing; Super Grey - 29.99, pacing; Magen - 29.95, pacing; Porto Cervo - 28.95, pacing; Kavita Nadira - 29.87, pacing.

600 METRES: Sure Wager - 34.75, good; Sure Honey - 38.65, handily; Explosive Suzie - 38.24, handily; French Academy - 41.88, handily; The Chairman - 41.13, handily; Ex Royal Babe and Embraceable - 44.89, pacing; Isle Be True - 42.51, pacing; Mandela - 44.00, pacing; Rebel Music - 44.37, pacing; Dinner Silence, Lit D’Amour and Ex Valid Krissy - 44.97, pacing.

800 METRES: Sugar Mike - 51.06, easy; Bold Fapp - 51.81, handily; Cinco De Mayo - 55.70, handily; Crackshot - 54.87, handily; Perfect Gem and Joint Venture - 51.78, handily - Joint Venture better; Attrainees - 52.89, handily; Naturell Classy - 55.59, handily; Soul Asylum - 58.42, pacing; Speed - 59.97, pacing; Hyarima - 55.99, pacing; Regent Boy - 57.42, pacing; Chief Commander - 59.90, pacing; Royal Miss - 59.99, pacing; Takeover - 59.92, pacing; Arumur - 57.49, pacing.

1000 METRES: Fantastic Story - 1:00.90, good; Yashoda and Dunsborough - 1:06.30, handily - Yashoda better; Sou Sou Moni - 1:07.92, handily; Java In Style - 1: 09.59, handily; Travel Agent - 1:12.86, pacing; Arts And Lovers, Wise Decision and Fiery Babe - 1:12.59, pacing.

1200 METRES: Phantom Bidder - 1:29.98, pacing; Fortunate Flag and Kato - 1:25.10, pacing.

Wednesday’s gallops: 400 METRES: Ex Dormello - 24.01, good (Boxes); Life In The Sky - 23.81, good (Boxes); Bob’s Passion - 25.61, handily (Boxes); Ex Donnybrook - 28.10, easy (boxes); Ex Royal Dance and Embraceable - 29.48, pacing; Ex In And Out - 28.89, pacing; Ex Angel Again and Ex Dinner Silence - 29.42, pacing; Hyarima - 29.99, pacing; Alert The Ship - 29.98, pacing; Brilliant Star - 29.77, pacing; Regent Boy - 29.93, pacing; Copy Cat - 29.95, pacing; Aishwarya - 27.94, pacing; Sure Park and Behind The Bridge - 29.99, pacing.

600 METRES: Seductive - 37.07, good; Cotonou - 41.28, handily; 2Sharp - 44.98, pacing; Cinco De Mayo - 44.93, pacing; Fresh Mandate - 41.84, pacing; Sunday Jewel - 44.95, pacing; Man Of Class - 44.97, pacing; Sea Spider - 43.74, pacing; Undisputed - 44.90, pacing; Poetry - 43.49, pacing; Carnival Messiah - 42.52, pacing; Sweet N’ Beautiful - 44.99, pacing; Fiery Babe, Arts And Lovers and Wise Decision - 44.16, pacing.

800 METRES: Joan Of Arc - 50.54, good; Born To Charm - 49.38, good; Gold Conveyor - 48.27, good; Golden Grades - 52.90, handily; Ooze - 51.27, handily; Creme Caramel - 51.24, handily; Private Affair - 52.66, easy; Noble Man - 56.02, pacing; Bold Fapp - 59.98, pacing; Atlantic Breeze - 59.99, pacing; Return To Glory - 57.69, pacing.