‘Classic’ favours late developers

THE 52nd running of the CLICO Midsummer Classic comes at a time which affords some of the later developing three-year-olds or those which may have missed the Guineas due to injury, the opportunity to show their mettle and become contenders for the premier event in September, the Derby. Some of those not raced in the Guineas and won the Classic which will be run off on tomorrow at Santa Rosa Park, Arima are Mercury, Carl Star, Stravinsky, Hilario, Tune In Time and Adoring Groom. This Classic was formerly run as the Trial Stakes up to 1982 and although it was contested at seven furlongs (1400m) for only eight years, some memorable performances were recorded and in the process some more than useful winners. The 1975 renewal was pretty hot as it turned into a match race for the entire backstretch between Sky Glory the eventual winner and Hollis Bhopa’s The Sting, which paid a hefty price of trying to go with “The Glory.”

Rey Pele followed up his breathtaking Guineas performance with another in the Trial Stakes, so too did Sea Hawk, who though bred in Barbados was owned and trained in Trinidad. Trainer Joe Hadeed saddled nine winners of this event now run over 1900 metres including subsequent Gold Cup winner Tune In Time, Red Stripe Superstakes winner Adoring Groom, Triple Crown winner Sky Rocket, Beheaded, Reflection, Irish Honor, Hilario and Cresendo — dam of current favourite Top Of The Class. His last six winners came every two years from 1986 to 1996. The legendary Eric “Colt” Durant registered 10 wins in this event including the likes of Royal Colours, Jonathon, King Sailor and Renegade. To date the only father and son to have captured the event is Terrence O’Brien and his son John. In the 51 runnings of the event only four jockeys have won the race in successive years to date. They are Dalton Lutchman (1959 and 1960), Challenor Jones (1961, 1962, 1963, 1971 and 1972), Venice Richards (1976 and 1977) and Brian Harding (1984 and 1985). Harding has won the race five times overall. Up to last year, 10 fillies have placed their names on the honour roll beginning with the inaugural Winner Bright Light, with the last being Coney Island in 1994.