Sugar Mike to sparkle in ‘Diamond’

SUGAR MIKE is on a recovery mission today after being beaten when odds-on favourite for the Sagicor Independence Cup Trophy. And the Grant Lourenco superstar should make no mistake this time in the Diamond Stakes Handicap, feature event on the Arima Race Club Day 29 nine-race programme at Santa Rosa Park, Arima. The Mike Samlalsingh-owned colt was the centre of attraction in the Grade One event at the end of August but failed to deliver the goods in the 1850 metres race on the turf course, which he won last year. The 2003 “Horse of the Year” was noted making a sweeping run approaching the final bend but failed to pull out anything in the stretch run. His trainer later indicated the five-year-old lost a shoe during the race and felt this may been responsible for the son of Ponche/No Sugar not getting on grips with his field. Sugar Mike had an unbeatable record on the sand course last season winning eight races over various distances. And from the four he contested on his favoured surface this term he won three with the only blemish coming in the Santa Rosa Dash Handicap.

Sugar Mike won the corresponding race last year and is taken to repeat despite humping 60.5 kilos today. Twice Infallible has been in great form since starting a sequence in mid-June. After a gentle introduction at the back end of last season, the three-year-old son of AP Jet/DD Walton has developed nicely and has been showing all the hallmarks of a group class individual. This versatile performer has gone on to rack up two more victories since he got the better of Fabulous Risk  in a Starter Allowance sprint. The manner in which he races suggests that he would not be inconvenienced by today’s trip, and with the light impost of 47.5 kilos and the competent Lorne Keizer in his saddle could give his more established stablemate plenty to do for the top prize in the grade two handicap worth a total $75,000. Invincibility, the third runners in the field to be saddled by Lourenco and Miss Lover Lover are the others in with a chance at the winning today’s  1350 metres race.