Jamaica 1-2 in Carib Brewery Stakes

THAT Carib Brewery Limited Trophy Caribbean Champions Stakes promises to be one “helluva” race. The run for the “roses” in this 1800 metres race at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Saturday, brought forward to a 2.30 pm post time to accommodate the presence of President George Maxwell Richards and his entourage, includes four Derby winners. Added to this, there is the quick-stepping Jamaican filly Latonia, who has shown the ability to both sprint and stay, finishing runner-up to Mucho Tempo in this year’s Royal Oak Derby over 2000 metres and in the same position in the Betting Levy Board Sprint Classic over 1300 metres. Then there is the other Jamaican entrant, the ever improving Uram, winner of the Derek Cozier Memorial Turf Classic over 1800 metres on the turf course, and a 1750 metres race for West Indian-bred three-year-olds on the main track.

This one finished a good sixth in the Royal Oak Derby after suffering a very rough passage throughout the race, and easily reversed the placings with Mucho Tempo in winning the Turf Classic. With the weight concession to both Latonia (48.5 kilos) and Uram (50.5 kilos), getting on the one hand four kilos from Mucho Tempo (52.5 kilos) and  two kilos, it will be difficult to keep the Jamaicans from filling the first two places. Top Of The Class cannot be easily ruled out of a chance of winning this race which is worth $200,000. Last year’s triple crown winner who also won this race to give owners Merlin Samlalsingh and Rupert Leong Poi the CLICO $1 million bonus, has been going extremely well at gallops despite being topweight in the event with 56.5 kilos.

And with the clever Ricardo Jadoo, his regular partner in the irons, count on Top Of The Class to make a very bold show. The 2002 Derby winner Millenium Reign has been showing moderate form lately but still must command some respect. And the 2001 triple crown winner Carnival Messiah is yet to win a race this season, but at his best this six-year-old could be a danger to all with his finishing kick. It is to be noted here, three Jamaican-bred horses are in the seven-horse field including Super Grey who is coming back to his best after four wins and five places in 13 starts this season. He showed he is regaining his touch when second to This Cat Is Back in a 1750 metres race recently. Further, the top sire Freshly Squeezed will be represented by four runners, all winners of the Royal Oak Derby.