Smart And Lucky shapes well

SMART AND LUCKY has not raced since the early part of the current season but the John O’Brien-trained colt, now coming off an injury, showed he has lost none of his blinding speed when schooling out of the boxes at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday morning. The Canadian-bred three-year-old which posted a track record time for 1100 metres on the sand as a juvenile, and returned in January to also add his name to the same distance on the turf course, reminded early railbirds of his speed by breezing from the boxes — 600 metres in 34.91 seconds. The fleet-footed chestnut’s preparation was watched by owner Roland Khan and seems geared towards having an outing before challenging  the top runners in next month’s Stewards’ Cup.

And owner Khan, who will also be represented by Cash Wager in the premier sprint on December 11, must have left the racecourse with a smile on his face after Smart And Lucky’s performance on sloppy ground conditions caused by early morning showers. The speed merchant had fractions of 11.75 and 22.95 before coasting down the stretch near the end of his work. Sugar Mike who will be defending his sprint crown in the 1200 metres Grade One event for which connections have paid subscriptions for 13 runners when the second stage closed, drilled 1000 metres in 1:01.77 seconds to show all comers his crown will not be easily taken away. But the “Horse Of The Year” may have gone out a bit too fast early on under regular rider Brian Harding, and did not finish with the authority  he is noted for. Alert The Ship was another to show up well on the gallops. 

This Kenneth De Silva Jnr-trained  rising star showed  he is no slouch, matching strides with fleet-footed stablemate Fortunate Flag over 1000 metres in 1:04.43 seconds. And Fantastic Story never fails to please in preparatory gallops. Trainer Grant Lourenco’s inmate enjoyed his solo spin over the same 1000 metres trip in 1:04.56 seconds. Isle Be True, First Time and Unforgiveable, and Return To Sender also enjoyed their gallops over 600 metres, while Fast Company shaped well over 800 metres. Isle Be True clocked 36.26 seconds for his run, and the Derick Mosca pair First Time and Unforgiveable was timed in 35.81. The disappointing Return To Sender completed her spin in the backstretch in 36.98 from the boxes, and Fast Company shook off his cobwebs in 48.76 seconds.   

Gallops recorded yesterday: 400 METRES: Bound To Dot Com - 25.72, handily (Boxes); Heaven Sent and Condoleza - 26.99, handily; Footwork - 27.17, handily; Stompy and Fun Free - 29.47, pacing; Never Ever Worrie - 29.96, pacing; Eye Candy - 29.77, pacing; Mandela - 29.18, pacing; Uram - 29.95, pacing; Danzc With Class - 28.97, pacing; Ex Sparkling Hero - 29.63, pacing; Fantastic Lad - 28.99, pacing; Carefree - 29.01, pacing; Native Love - 27.80, pacing; Sure Ting - 29.95, pacing; Lit D’Amaour and Joy - 29.63, pacing; Invincibility - 29.83, pacing; Bold As Brass - 29.71, pacing.

600 METRES: Smart And Lucky - 34.91, good (Boxes); First Time and Unforgiveable - 35.81, good; Isle Be True - 36.26, good; Return To Sender - 36.98, good (Boxes); Ex Sporting Green and Twice Infallible - 40.71, handily; Mystic River and Attraction - 38.10, handily; Trini Express and Sequin - 39.69, handily; Private Affair - 40.25, handily; Vitesse Triomphe - 40.74, handily; Border Dispute and Flying Millie - 37.73, handily; Ichiban - 44.99, pacing; Rebel Music - 43.83, pacing; Golden Grades - 43.84, pacing; Man Of Class - 44.98, pacing; Cat Woman - 43.31, pacing; Saucy Wow - 44.98, pacing; Arumur - 44.97, pacing; Female Bandit - 43.70, pacing.

800 METRES: Fast Company - 48.76, good; Unintentionally and Go Geronimo - 54.88, handily; Getthejobdone - 53.89, handily; Honor Bound - 54.28, handily; Premier Attraction - 51.67, handily; Soul Asylum - 53.31, handily; Justice - 53.17, handily; Royal Dame - 57.36, pacing; Joint Account - 59.92, pacing; Ex Hazey Lady and Honour N’Glory - 59.20, pacing; Marci’s Dream - 58.99, pacing; Ex Sincerley Speaking and Ex Top Priority - 57.11, pacing.

1000 METRES: Sugar Mike - 1:01.77, good; Fantastic Story - 1:04.56, handily; Outswinger - 1:06.42, handily; Pave The Way - 1:09.22, handily; Fortunate Flag and Alert The Ship - 1:04.43, handily; Silver Bullet - 1:09.39, handily.

1800 METRES: Tactical Bid - 2:08.59, pacing.