Punto A Punto a Starlight surprise

PUNTO A PUNTO came with a late rattle to just get his head in front to snatch the co-feature Starlight Stakes for West Indies-bred horses over 1350 metres on Day 6 of the Arima Race Club season at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday. This eight-year-old roan horse, always in the firing line early, was driven to the wire by Rajidan Ramirez to just get a very short head verdict from the photo-finish camera over odds-on favourite Man Of Class with a fast-finishing Chief Commander a neck away third in a most thrill-packed race. And the brave backers of Punto A Punto went away smiling with a tote dividend of $108.60 on a win ticket and $12.70 to place. But these backers still faced a period of stress when there was an objection against the winner, who was discovered toting 1.5 kilos more than advertised.

The race was robbed of some sparkle as Phantom Menace the second favourite ridden by Emile Ramsammy was withdrawn before the start. But the biggest shock of the day was The Night Man finishing dead last in the feature Royalo Colours Classic over 1350 metres. Later, owner Ravi Ramjanack informed, his bay colt became hocked at the start, and that x-rays will be done today to determine the extent of the damage. On a day of many surprise winners, Hollywood Heidiafter giving a handful at the start, slammed a field of three-year-old maidens over 1100 metres to reward backers with $10.60 and $3.00, and with Ms Independent second and Otra Avenida third, the trifecta dividend was $1,524.60. With fourth placed Sequin, the superfecta paid $$1,579.80. Both Timberlake and Firepower gave tremendous trouble at the start and had to be withdrawn, with bets being refunded.

Another surprise winner was The Chairman who paid $10.50 and $4.80 on the tote. Ramsammy became the first jockey into double figures when he landed Fabulous Risk winner of the Starter Allowance race named in his honour.  He now has ten winners. And after his sojourn to Barbados on Saturday for Sandy Lane Gold Cup Day, he will return to ride here until April when racing begins at Woodbine Racecourse, where is is based. Young trainer Bobby Persad will well remember yesterday, as he saddled his first-ever winner in Mayaro Breeze. But honours among the trainers were shared by Grant Lourenco and Jack Debideen who both sent out two winners each. The riding honours were shared by three jockeys Venezuelan Wilmer Galviz, and Trinidadians Ricardo Jadoo and apprentice Sheldon Rodrigo who had two winning rides each.