Rebel Music plays sweet tune in feature

UNBEATEN Getdjobdone was a late withdrawal, but despite this, the feature Allowance race at the “Friday Lime” still produced the type of finish turfites envisaged at the Carib-sponsored Surf Meets Turf Arima Race Club Day 22 programme run off at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday. From the off in the 1300 metres race, Soul Asylum tried to make it all , but was closely followed by race favourite Dinner Silence with Rebel Music next in the four-horse field. When the horses swung for home, the trio were in a line but apprentice Richard Mangalee managed to rouse Rebel Music enough to get home by a head in front Dinner Silence with Soul Asylum fading into third.

An informant later indicated that Getdjobdone was noted to be laming by the veterinarian and was promptly scratched. The race also marked the debut of apprentice Ryan Hasranah, who rode fourth and last Kavita Nadira. Turfites also got a good one in Reef Knot, winning on his local debut in good style. This American-bred colt owned in Barbados by Sir Charles Williams and from the champion trainer John O’Brien barn, made hash of the opposition in the day’s finale the Restricted Handicap over 1350 metres.

Always close up, apprentice Joshua Stephen sent the four-year-old about his business 400 metres out and scored comfortably by two and a half lengths from Movietowne Magic, while Punto Apunto came on the scene late to get third. There was a stunning upset in the race for West Indies-bred maiden three-year-olds when Unintentionally got to the wire half length ahead of Run Manie Run. Backers were rewarded with $101.40 and $14.20 on the tote, and the lucky turfites who coupled the winner and second with Rusalkaand Lauralee-Inflight, collected a handsome superfecta dividend of $12,215.61.

The day turned out to be a good one for apprentice riders, especially Joshua Stephen who landed four winners on the nine-race programme, while Richard Mangalee had two and Nela Mohammed one. Only full-fledged jockeys to score wins were Vaughn “Jahous” Charles and Rajpaul Rajkumar. Because of the small fields and fovourites obliging, dividends at the “Friday Lime” were moderate throughout. Local horseracing now takes a one-week break with the next card being on Emancipation Day, August 1, also at Santa Rosa Park, Arima.