Mendez can go to Top Of The Class

AFFABLE trainer Glenn Mendez holds a very strong hand in today’s feature CLICO Midsummer Classic to be run off at Santa Rosa Park, Arima. The unassuming conditioner will saddle pre-race favourite Top Of The Class, Sweet Tempo and Celebration Time in the 1900 metres event, the second jewel of the local triple crown. Following his emphatic 12-length victory over his peers in the UPTC Easter Guineas over 1800 metres, 100 metres less than today’s trip in April, this son of Freshly Squeezed/Crescendo has thrived, and will take a lot of beating. Celebration Time ran on gamely to be fourth in the Guineas, and this improving sort, a half sister to Top Of The Class can again find a place since she is well suited to the distance. And in Sweet Tempo, Mendez’s third arrow in his quiver, turfites must be well be mindful to use them among their trifecta combinations. Can it be a 1-2-3 for Mendez in the race sponsored by Colonial Life Insurance (Trinidad) Company worth $125,000? Remember too, Mendez is the only trainer to saddle the winner of the Triple crown in Carnival Messiah in 2001 since Sky Glory in 1975, and he is aiming to emulate the feat.

The answer will be forthcoming by approximately 5.05 pm this afternoon. But for all this, it will not be a three-horse race by any stretch of the imagination, since Due Dilligence, Isle Be There, Cornerstone, Royal Flush  and Loud Music holds the engagement. One can never leave out a runner trained by that wily owner-trainer-breeder Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj who sends Loud Music to post. And turfites only have to throw their mind back to last year’s race when Miss Laura Lee stunned all by beating the raging favourite Napoleon. There is no denying John O’Brien is an excellent judge of horse flesh, and of course he will have his trio Due Dilligence, Isle Be There and Cornerstone as fit as he could get them. Due Dilligence was a star turn as a two-year-old but went wrong which curtailed his three-year-old campaign to just two races before today. But if back to his best could be the fly in the ointment, something which could also be said for the filly Cornerstone. O’Brien’s biggest threat however, seems to be Isle Be There, especially if the rains keep falling on the Santa Rosa track. He seems to relish the slop, and could give owner Diane Scott a welcome success for the disappointment of Isle Be True in last year’s Royal Oak Derby. And the Scotts seems destined for some change of luck in this classic event, since going without a winner in this event for more than two decades. The form points to Top Of The Class however, along with stablemate Sweet Tempo. Isle Be There is a big danger to them all. Today’s 10-race programme will test turfites to the limit since it is a very  competitive and well put together card. And although the Classic will hold the spotlight, there are several “good” races on the programme including the second feature the CLICO Santa Rosa Dash for the top class runners over 1200 metres. This one, despite a disappointing field of just five runners could turn out to be a brain-teaser with any of the quintet capable of taking the winner’s purse of $45,000. But the form of Sugar Mike, despite his topweight of 56.5 kilos, must be respected. Then there is the speedy gelding Song Of Freedom, flashy Tactical Bid the only filly in the line-up, the consistent Invincibility and Fortunate Flag who won her last two races.