Sara’s Music ready for ‘em in ‘Midsummer’

He did so at the launch of the race at the CLICO executive suite at the Queen’s Park Oval yesterday.

The cagey owner-breeder-trainer, fielding questions from reporters indicated his gelded son of Java In Flight/Indian Music “will run his best race,” but noted he has most to fear from Greek Princess and Jacobite, if fit.

Sara’s Music suffered a setback just over one week ago, but the very experienced Maharaj has the Bookmakers Association Guineas winner back on course for the prestigious Triple Crown. Champion trainers (winners) John O’Brien and Glenn Mendez (earnings), also spoke about their charges.

O’Brien said his hope Millionaire, which joined his barn six weeks ago, trained very well on Sunday last, but said “the question is whether he would stay.”

The “Midsummer”, the second jewel on the local racing Triple Crown, will be run over 1900 metres with the CLICO $150,000 purse at the end of the rainbow.

But O’Brien said as of now, his other runner Sky High is very doubtful of taking her chances in the race because of a setback.

Mendez admitted his top contender Jacobite had some problems but “will have his final gallop tomorrow (today),” while his other runner Bold Mover has come on greatly. His third runner the well-bred Godspell, by Freshly Squeezed/Spellbound, Mendez said “is training well.” O’Brien’s quartet for the President’s Cup have drawn alongside each other for the 1900 metres race with a CLICO $75,000 purse at stake.

He said all four of his runners, Privilege, Chief Commander, Uram and Hello Yankee “are in good niche,” but he blasted the handicapping for the race.

“The Captain” as he is fondly called, indicated that Peace Offering, “if at her best, has been handed the race on a platter.”

Earlier, Arima Race Club president Gerard Ferreira said ex-champion jockey Emile Ramsammy and Richard dos Ramos will be coming from Woodbine, Canada, Dane Nelson from Jamaica and Jamaican Ricardo Hibbert who is based in Barbados, along with Venezuelan Yubari Garcia will ride on Emancipation Day, giving the card an even more competitive flavour.

CLICO chief marketing officer Ian Garcia said his company is committed to the ARC and the Triple Crown.

But he noted, “For the first time in many years, there is no clear-cut candidate to take the Triple Crown.” He said, ‘‘Winner of the Guineas is normally the focus for the Midsummer Classic, however, Sara’s Music, this year’s Guineas winner is at this time doubtful to start.”

A pall of sadness fell over the news conference, however, when it was announced that ace radio announcer/race caller Dave Lamy’s wife sandra had died.

Here is the draw with jockeys for the two races:

Clico Midsummer Classic - 1. JACOBITE, Gary Laban; 2. MILLIONAIRE, Nela Mohammed; 3. SARA’S MUSIC, Jody Arneaud; 4. GREEK PRINCESS Rajpaul Rajkumar; 5. GODSPELL, Richard dos Ramos; 6. WINDJAMMER, Wilmer Galviz; 7. ANGEL OF MUSIC, Sheldon Rodrigo; 8. SING THE BLUES, Dane Nelson; 9. BOLD MOVER, Yubari Garcia; 10. SKY HIGH, Ricardo Jadoo; 11. DANSE DE COCOA, Joshua Stephen; 12. DUDLEY’S GIRL, Emile Ramsammy; 13. BLUFF BID, Ricardo Hibbert.

President’s Cup - 1. WILD ABOUT BECCA, Ryan Hasranah; 2. PRIVILEGE, Nela Mohammed; 3. URAM, Gary Laban; 4. HELLO YANKEE, Wilmer Galviz; 5. CHIEF COMMANDER, Ricardo Jadoo; 6. LEKH RAJ, Lorne Keizer; 7. PEACE OFFERING, Emile Ramsammy; 8. ICE TIMBER, Dane Nelson; 9. CROWN POINT, Richard dos Ramos; 10. SPEEKINGINPARABLES, Roger Freeman; 11. SUAVE RUNNER, Joshua Stephen.