Easter Guineas looks a Royal Flush

ROYAL FLUSH has developed into a real star for trainer Anthony Serville this season. And he can go in again in the feature Union Park Turf Club Easter Guineas, the blue riband event on the Arima Race Club Day 12 card at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, today.

The son of Time For A Trick had a successful juvenile campaign, winning twice and was among the money on two occasions in his other three starts. And the bay gelding showed that he has trained on by winning his first start this season. He failed to get on board in the Flamingo Stakes and Royal Colours Stakes won by Ichiban but was not disgraced in either race. In the first of those two events, he had to be used up after a slow start, and in the second he lost his chance when he fell away after being utilised early to get at the leaders. Ridden with restraint by apprentice Richard Persad in his first try around two turns last time, he hushed all detractors to bank the spoils of the 1750 metres with a compelling display at 60/1.

After breaking smartly,  he was taken off the pace and settled among the backmarkers, gradually racing into a challenging position up the backstretch. And when asked for more Royal Flush wore down his rivals to win by one and a quarter lengths. Much better prepared for today’s big occasion, his competent partner, who has since been contracted to ride all the stable runners, is expected to employ the same riding tactics, to give the stable famous for the azure blue colours their first leg of the classic victory in this year’s first leg of the triple crown series. Biggest fear in the 1800 metres event on  today’s 11-race programme could come from the barn of Glen Mendez.

Mendez, who tasted triple crown success two seasons ago with Carnival Messiah, has a formidable array of  talented three-year-olds. He goes into the staying event with a three-pronged attack, from which Celebration Time and Top Of The Class, are the standouts. Both were beaten by Royal Flush last time out, but Mendez is astute and would have learnt from those defeats. Last time he used Celebration Time to do the pace-setting, but that plan is likely to be reversed if he is to have any chance of lifting today’s $60,000 first prize. Top Of The Class may have been dissappointed by not being allowed to race freely. The son of Freshly Squeezed/Cresendo had no trouble “breaking his duck” on his second start. He was really impressive that day, going for the lead from a wide draw, and looked better the further they went in the 1350 metres event, beating his stable companion by seven lengths.

The booking of Ricardo Jadoo makes clear the intention of his connections,  adding another asset to Top Of The Class’ style of running. Celebration Time, who reversed the placing with his stablemate over 1750 metres will be partnered by Raymond Ganpath, who flew in from the USA especially for the ride. The experience gained by the past champion apprentice, who now competes alongside such greats as Jerry Bailey, Alex Solis, and Jorge Valesquez must come into play. Cornerstone and Super Grey have shown a likeness for the longer trip and are the others to be considered in this staying event. The Champagne Stakes, which acts as the supporting cast, has become a contentious issue, with owners of Adawar and Sugar Mike threatening to withdraw their charges if ground conditions for the 1600 metres turf race event remains bone hard. Sugar Mike gets the nod should both take their place in the seven-horse  field, and Phantom Bidder gets the vote if they decline.