Jamaican trio here for Royal Oak Derby

THE Jamaican raiders for this year’s $250,000 Royal Oak Derby are here. And according to Arima Race Club racing secretary/handicapper Robin Jaisingh, Seattle Sue, Latonia and Uram arrived yesterday afternoon in good shape and went straight into quarantine. The trio will throw down the gauntlet to top local equine stars French Academy, Melanie My Love and Mucho Tempo in the 2000 metres spotlight event on Republic Day, Friday, at Santa Rosa Park, Arima. Meanwhile, Captain America showed he will be no pushover in the  Angostura Aromatic Bitters Nursery Stakes. This Barbadian-bred “babe” showed his good form when clocking a handy 24.98 seconds for a 400 metres gallop at Santa Rosa Park, yesterday morning.

And Luann’s Passion, a winner last time out who holds the same 1200 metres engagement with a purse of $50,000, had a good spin over 600 metres in 38.46 seconds. Astute trainer Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj will saddle this speedster for the “Nursery.” Maharaj also gave his Royal Oak Derby candidate Melanie My Love a 600 metres gallop, which this most consistent filly covered in 40.47 easily. Another Derby entrant, the highly fancied Mucho Tempo, owned by Rupert Leong Poi and Merlin Samlalsingh, the combination which led in triple crown winner Top Of The Class last year, was not extended in his 600 metres run in 41 seconds flat. But the morning’s best gallop over 400 metres came from Dead Sure who is entered for the White Oak Rum 1200 metres sprint for three-year-old West Indies bred maidens. This Neal “Speedy” Greaves-trained stepped lively over the trip in 23.66 seconds. Lady Rossie together with Lady Banker had the morning’s best run over 600 metres, clocking 36.09 seconds from the boxes.

Here are gallops recorded yesterday: 400 METRES: Trini To D Bone 28.96 pacing; Captain America 24.98 handy; Private Affair 29.92 pacing; Explosive Suzie 25.17 handy; Squee Zintru 24.78 handy; Poetry 28.97 pacing; Groomsman 26.69 handy; Politics 27.99 pacing; Dead Sure 23.66 good; Joint Venture 29.19 pacing; New Star 27.00 handy; Salsa Moves 28.17 pacing. 600 METRES: Mucho Tempo 4.00 handy; Isle Be True 38.74 handy; Redoubled better than Native Love 37.09 good; Copy Cat and Java In Style 40.47 handy; Melanie My Love 40.07 handy; Run Mani Run 39.23 handy; Bound To Dot Com44.34 pacing; Luann’s Passion 38.46 handy; Java Takeover 37.59 handy; Morgan Heritage 44.96 pacing; Travel Agent 41.50 pacing; Lady Rossie and Lady Banker 36.09 good (boxes). 800 METRES: Yashoda 52.77 easy; Bandinthong 59.93 pacing; The Nightman 58.69 pacing; Rhythm Divine 49.98 handy. 1000 METRES: Hundred Percent 1:11.49 pacing; Millenium Reign 1:14.96 pacing.