Sian’s Gold Sprint feature a War of Speed

THE First Citizens Sian’s Gold Sprint feature over 1100 metres on the turf at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on first day of the Arima Race Club 2006 season on Monday promises to be a War of Speed. Judging from the gallops returned by some of the principals selecting the winner will tax the nerves and knowledge of all turfites. At Santa Rosa Park yesterday morning, Bright King lit up the track in a 400 metres spin, clocking a fast time of 22.65 seconds. Not to be outdone, ace creole sprinter and Horse of the Year 2005 candidate Man Of Class gunned through a 600 metres gallop clocking an excellent 36 seconds flat. Si Senor and Sky Bird who are both engaged in the First Citizens Neo Trophy over 1200 metres, one of the three races for the First Citizens Jockeys Championship, looked good over 600 metres, stopping the clock at 38.97 seconds.

And Rohana who faces unbeaten All For Java in the First Citizens First Classic Trophy over 1100 metres on the turf, had the older Ragstorichestorags and Sweet N’ Beautiful for company in a 600 metres gallop completed in 38.10 seconds, while Private Affair tuned up for the day’s finale, the FirstCitizens Abercrombie Trophy over 1750 metres with a gallop over the same trip in 38.54 seconds. The six-year-old bay horse Movietowne Magic showed he is ready and capable to deal with the opposition in the 1350 metres First Citizens E First Trophy Starter Allowance when clocking one minute 03.37 for a 1000 metres gallop. And nine-year-old Bold Fapp, also engaged in the final race of the ten-race programme, showed some fire in a 400 metres spin timed in 24.75 seconds.

Here are gallops recorded yesterday:  (Going: Fast)

400 METRES: BOLD FAPP  - 24.75 handy; BRIGHT KING  - 22.65 good; PLAN OF ATTACK,  PATRIOT PRIDE  - 29.19 pacing; SURE PARK  - 29.19 pacing; SAINT VALENTINE - 29.19 pacing.
600 METRES: CAPTAIN AMERICA  - 40.89 pacing; CITY OF LIGHTS  - 40.81 pacing; LIVING IN HOPE  - 41.00 pacing; PRIVATE AFFAIR - 38.54 handy; ROHANA,  RAGSTORICHESTORAGS, SWEET N’ BEAUTIFUL - 38.10 handy; SI SENOR, SKY BIRD- 38.97 handy; WINNIE  - 44.99 pacing; MAN OF CLASS  - 36.00 good; CONDOLEEZA  - 44.99 pacing; DEVILFIRSTLOUIS  - 44.95 pacing.

800 METRES: BLANCA, SING THE BLUES  - 56.34 pacing; FAIRYTALE ROMANCE  - 59.97 pacing; GOLDEN GUMP  - 53.14 pacing;  JAVA IN STYLE  - 52.90 pacing; THE NUTCRAKA  - 57.97 pacing; MONEY UP FRONT  - 59.93 pacing.

1000 METRES: LAURALEE-INFLIGHT - 1:13.87 pacing; MOVIETOWNE MAGIC  - 1:03.37 good;  TRINI EXPRESS  - 1:11.07 pacing.