Miss Lover Lover makes connections smile

MISS LOVER LOVER closed off her preparations for the Trintrac Stewards Cup in style, signalling she will be in the shake-up again in the 1200 metres dash dubbed the “Sprint Championship of the Southern Caribbean.” The Edmund De Freitas-trained mare runner-up to Sugar Mike in last year’s edition, placed a smile on the faces of connections as she sped through the last 600 metres of her gallop at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Wednesday, in the excellent time of 34.54 seconds with raceday rider Rajpaul Rajkumar in her irons. De Freitas who watched the performance stayed on to attend the function for the draw for post positions for his hopeful held on Level Two of the grand stand.

De Freitas said he was confident of a good showing from his stable star and was happy with the No 8 position chosen for his runner in the 10-horse field which will determine the fastest horse currently in training. Life In The Sky and Dinner Silence, which hail from trainer Glenn Mendez stable also had tongues wagging. The pair entered in separate events on tomorrow’s nine-race card went stride for stride between the same points as Miss Lover Lover and completed the gallop a shade slower than the Sagicor Independence Cup winner, clocking  34.56 seconds. Rebel Music and Ghost Meadow who also hold the engagement in tomorrow’s spotlight race, chose to breeze over 400 metres throught the straight. Rebel Music on whom apprentice Richard Mangalee will have his first Group One ride was timed in 23.57 seconds, while Ghost Meadow was not given his head in  recording 25.34 seconds.

Sugar Mike closed off his “prep” with a light preparation. Trainer Grant Lourenco explained that he would be depending on the ability of his Horse Of The Year to bring home the crown again. He said Sugar Mike had an attack of Tick Fever leading up to tomorrow’s event, which was the reason for his light preparation. After the draw for post positions, the dedicated young trainer, Lourenco said, he was lucky to diagnose the problem early and felt he had nipped it in the bud. He explained a swelling of the feet usually goes with the fever, but that was not seen. He said Sugar Mike went off his feed because of the problem but quickly picked back up, and would be relying on his ability to bank the top purse in the $100,000 event. Lourenco’s other runner in the prestigious race, Twice Infallible, went at a handy clip over 1000 metres in 1:08.74 seconds.

Gallops recorded yesterday:  400 METRES: Never Ever Worrie - 26.59, handily; Reign Of Fire - 28.99, pacing; Fantastic Story - 29.98, pacing; Super Grey - 29.93 pacing; Flying The Flag - 29.28, pacing; Twice The Jet - 29.91, pacing; Maid Of Honour - 27.92, pacing; Comanchero - 28.62, pacing; Fire Power and Bold Diplomat - 27.87, pacing; El Gringo - 29.82, pacing; Takeover - 29.97, pacing; Chief Commander - 28.59, pacing; Philadelphian - 29.90, pacing.

600 METRES: Peace Of Mind - 37.95, handily; The Chairman - 40.75, handily; Bon Voyage - 43.34, pacing On Your Mark and Synergy - 42.77, pacing; Tiger Lily - 42.34, pacing; Kylie Wylie and Condoleza - 44.98, pacing; Sure Wager - 43.33, pacing; Guest Appearance and Baby Mass - 44.49, pacing; Heaven Sent and Fresh Love - 44,93, pacing.

800 METRES: Potery - 53.95, handily; Rhythm Divine - 53.74, handily; Seattle Sue - 59.93, pacing; Evil Kneevle - 59.99, pacing; Millenium Reign - 59.84, ppacing; Man Of Class - 58.23, pacing.

1000 METRES: Alert The Ship and Ms Independent - 1:05.85, handily; Supremeley Satisfied - 1:12.08, pacing; Love Divine and Fantastic Lad - 1:13.47, pacing; Dead Sure - 1:12.01, pacing; Cash Wager - 1:14.00, pacing.

1200 METRES: Joint Venture - 1:29.98, pacing; Tactical Bid - 1:24.16, pacing.  

Wednesday’s Gallops:  400 METRES: Rebel Music - 23.57, good; Bada Bing - 24.72, good; Timberlake and Fame and Glory - 26.71, handily (Boxes); Squee Zintru 24.57, good; Ghost Meadow - 25.34, handily; Spin N’Squeeze and smooth Operator - 26.11, handily; Blondie - 25.01, handily; Copy Cat - 25.79, handily; Miss Julie - 29.92, pacing; Super Grey - 29.98, pacing; Poetry - 29.99, pacing; Retribution - 29.78, pacing; Mucho Tempo - 29.79, pacing; Fresh Love and Heaven Sent - 29.77, pacing; Dare To Dream - 28.99, pacing; El Gringo - 29.99, pacing; Ichiban - 29.78, pacing; Laura Lee In Flight - 27.63, pacing; The Chairman - 28.28, pacing; Ex Top Priority - 28.54, pacing; Undisputed - 29.84, pacing.

600 METRES: Miss Lover Lover - 34.54, good; Life In The Sky and Dinner Silence - 34.56, good; Mister Hypocrit - 35.61, good; Bound To Dot Com - 36.47, good; Fast Company - 36.02, good; Ooze - 40.93, handily; Indian Decision - 37.76, handily; Once In A Lifetime - 39.42, handily; Condoleza and Kylie Wylie - 44.67, pacing, Politics - 44.98, pacing; Sunday Jewel - 44.02, pacing; Soundsgootume - 43.78, pacing; Sun Splash - 44.93, pacing; Joint Venture - 44.94, pacing; Ms Independent - 44.70, pacing; Chief Commander - 41.63, pacing; Creme Caramel - 44.25, pacing; Magen and Rocket Booster - 43.88, pacing.

800 METRES: Winning Trick - 53.66, handily; Peace Of Mind - 54.43, handily; Ex Sincerley Speaking - 55.29, handily; Trini To D Bone - 59.91, pacing; Seductive - 57.63, pacing; Sugar Mike - 58.31, pacing; Life In Russia - 56.30, pacing; Miss Real Quiet - 59.09, pacing; Supremely Satisfied and Millenium Reign - 59.06, pacing Ex What A Bid - 59.78, pacing; The Nightman - 56.07, Man Of Class - 57.33, pacing; Footwork - 58.21, pacing;    
1000 METRES: Phantom Bidder - 1:08.56, easy; Twice Infallible - 1:08,74, handily; Unforgiveable - 1:08.09, handily; Run Mani Run - 1:09.56, handily; Buffalo Soldier - 1:10.90, pacing.

1800 METRES: Tactical Bid - 2:04.99, handily.