Top Of The Class takes Diamond Stakes

TOP OF THE CLASS made every metre of the running to land the feature Diamond Stakes Handicap and the $45,000 prize money for owner Merlin Samlalsingh on Betting Levy Board Day at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday. From the off, Venezuelan rider Wilmer Galviz had the 2003 Triple Crown winner in the lead in the 1350 metres race and he fought off an early challenge by Miss Lover Lover. And just when pre-race favourite Sugar Mike, Invincibility and Fantastic Story appeared to have his measure turning for home, the son of Freshly Squeezed/Crescendo kicked in another gear and strode away for a two-length victory. Fantastic Story held off Invincibility for the runner-up spot while Sugar Mike faded into fifth and last place.

Crown Point made hash of the “opposition” in the co-feature Derek Cozier Memorial Classic over 1800 metres, which was shifted from the turf to the main course because of track conditions. Narrowly denied the Triple Crown and $250,000 bonus in the Royal Oak Derby recently, Galviz sent the Glenn Mendez-trained three-year-old Tobago-bred colt into the lead more than 700 metres out and his rider only had to hand-ride the rest of the way to give owner Peter Hackett the $36,000 consolation. All For Java toyed with his seven two-year-old rivals in easily winning the Bettting Levy Board Juvenile Sprint Trophy over 1300 metres. Jamaican jockey Ricardo Hibbert sent the Shaffique Khan-trained Java In Flight/Set All colt into the lead after 200 metres and it was all over bar the shouting as he won eased up by one-and-a-quarter lengths, bettering the time of last year’s winner Arts And Lovers by almost two seconds.

Prince Charming whipped the three-year-olds in the Betting Levy Board Sprint Classic Trophy over 1300 metres to give owner Balkrishen Sagan Maraj the top prize of $30,000. Raging favourite St Mike never gave backers hope at any stage of the race and finished a hopeless fifth of the seven runners. Mendez saddled three winners on the day’s nine-race programme to collect the $900 trainers prize with Jack Debideen getting the $400 runner-up money and Chester Roberts $200 for third. Galviz booted home three winners to take the jockeys $900 prize, with Ricardo Jadoo getting the $400 runner-up money and apprentice Neela Mohammed $200 for third.