Sugar Mike ready to Dash rivals Friday

SUGAR MIKE, a disappointing fourth in the Indian Arrival Turf Handicap two weeks ago, looks ready to put that performance behind him.

The American-bred bay colt had a revealing gallop at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday morning, stepping 1000 metres in 1:01.7 seconds. And the Grant Lourenco-trained entrant who was beaten in the 1725 metres Indian Arrival race seems set to dash the hopes of his four rivals in the Santa Rosa Dash Handicap over 1200 metres on Friday, Labour Day. But the speedy filly Fortunate Flag showed she will be a serious challenger in the same event which carries a purse of $45,000 with a dazzling run over 600 metres in 23.9 seconds. Sweet Tempo continues to please in her preparations for the rich CLICO Midsummer Classic, the second stage of the triple crown with a good gallop over 1000 metres in 1:05.4 seconds.

Undisputed who also holds the engagement in the $125,000 event over 1900 metres turned in another fine run, covering 1000 metres in 1:04 seconds flat. Isle Be There showed he will be there in the thick of things in the Classic with a 600 metres spin completed in 36.4 seconds. Napoleon, The Emperor as he is fondly called, is making a return to the track after a long lay off, and showed he is coming around with a 600 metres run in 41.8 seconds. Chanticleer showed some of his old sparkle in a 600 metres gallop yesterday, returning after his long lay off from the track. The Iron Horse, winner of 25 races on the Santa Rosa track, was clocked in a eye-opening 38.7 seconds for the run and is sending out a signal to his younger rivals.

Here are the gallops recorded yesterday:
400 METRES - CARNIVAL MESSIAH - 23.9; COPY CAT - 25.0; CYBER FIVE - 27.1; FANTASTIC LAD - 24.0; FORTUNATE FLAG - 23.9; HONEY BELLE - 29.9; HOT WAY - 24.4;  ISLE BE TRUE - 23.9; JOAN OF ARC - 24.0; KENT’S DELIGHT - 24.8; LAZAR WOLF - 27.0; MISA’S GOLD - 26.1; MUTOLA - 29.5; SWEET LAURA LEE - 28.2; SPEEDFUHSO- 29.5; POLITICS - 24.3;  PREFERED SHARE - 28.7; WINNING TRICK - 24.0.
600 METRES - AFFIRM DECISION - 41.6; ALEX - 40.2;  BITE DE BULLET - 39.4; BONUS POINT - 38.9; BOUND TO DOT COM - 44.8; CHANTICLEER - 38.7; COLD RISK - 36.8; COTONOU - 43.0; ENTERTAINER - 36.5; FINEST GEM - 44.9; FIRST TIME - 39.4; FULL OF PROMISES - 36.0; GAME HIGH - 37.3; HATRICK - 43.6; HYARIMA - 36.6; ISLE BE THERE - 36.4; MARY MAGDALENE - 35.7; MIR ON FIRE - 35.7; MISS EMMA - 37.7; MY APHRODITE - 37.5; NANDO - 36.6; NAPOLEON - 41.8; OUTRAGEOUS VICTORY - 36.5;  LOVELY HONOREE - 37.9; MAID OF HONOUR - 41.7; RED HILL - 42.9;  REGENT BOY- 44.9; RUBY RICH - 40.2; SEA SPIDER - 36.0; SIR VIDIA  - 37.5; THE CHAIRMAN - 44.6; ULA - 44.8; V FOR VICTORY -  36.3; VANLOU - 38.9; WHAT LEFT - 38.9; STORMY SEASON - 40.7; X TO BOARD - 36.3.
800 METRES - MORGAN HERITAGE Breezed 4F in 49.4; CANAIMA Breezed - 49.4; CLASSY KIM - 49.5; DARE TO DREAM - 52.2;  DAURIAN - 56.2;  DUE DILLIGENCE - 51.8;  FROMNOWUNTIL - 49.4; GOLDEN SHUFLEUR - 53.2; GUARDIAN ANGEL - 50.8; LIVING IN HOPE - 55.8; PHANTOM BIDDER - 52.6; SEDUCTIVE - 59.9; SHOWMETHEMONEY - 55.6;  SONG OF FREEDOM - 49.9; SUPREME DANCER - 57.1; TOUCH WOOD - 50.8; TRICKY GUY - 51.2.
1000 METRES:  CORNERSTONE - 1:08.2; FIRESTORM - 1:07.0; OUTSWINGER - 1:08.0; SPLITTING IMAGE - 1:05.6; SUGAR MIKE Breezed - 1:01.7; SWEET TEMPO - 1:05.4; UNDISPUTED - 1:04.0.