Millenium Reign supreme in ARC Allowance

MILLENIUM REIGN came with a resolute stretch run to win the Allowance feature at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Day 17 of the Arima Race Club racing season yesterday.

Always in mid-division of the 1750 metres event worth $23,000, jockey Wilmer Galviz asked the John O’Brien-trained gelding for his effort as the six-horse field entered the stretch. And with one sweeping run, last year’s Royal Oak Derby winner charged down the straight to score comfortably by three lengths. Man Of Class set off to make it all tracked by Morgan Heritage and stablemate Mandela. But when the heat was turned on, the top impost of 56.5 kilos took its toll and the Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj-owned and trained gelding fell back beaten into third. Mandela ran on gamely to just get his head in front of his stable companion, with Morgan Heritage running on at one pace for fourth. Biggest tote dividend of the 10-race programme was paid on I’m No Hunter who was winning on a Trinidad track for the first time. He rewarded backers with $11.30 and $3.30.

No trifecta or superfecta dividend reached the $1,000 mark on a day of very moderate dividends. Best trifecta was on the I’m No Hunter, Yankee Eagle, Alibi Ike combination - $233. And the quartet of Life In Russia, another first time winner, Joint Venture, City Of Lights, Kent’s Delight rewarded turfiteas with the best superfecta dividend of $990.50. Panamanian rider Nobel Abrego and Venezuelan Wilmer Galviz shared the riding honours, each landing three winners on the day’s card. But champion trainer John O’Brien saddled four winners yesterday, including Millenium Reign to be the leading conditioner on the day. Next race day is June 20, Labour Day, for which another 10-race programme has been framed, with the $75,000 CLICO Midsummer Classic over 1900 metres as the star arttraction. Also on the day’s programme will be the Santa Rosa Dash over 1200 metres worth $45,000.