Trainers sharpen up for Saturday

THE buzz on a chilly morning yesterday was still over the commanding victory by Top Of The Class in last Saturday’s CLICO Midsummer Classic. But many trainers took the opportunity to get their charges sharp for Saturday’s Arima Race Club Day 19 programme. And stealing the spotlight were City Of Lights and From Now Until who stepped 1000 metres in company timed in 1:02.70 seconds. Speedster Kalyan showed she was rounding into her best form with a sizzling run over the same distance clocked in 1:02.88. Also flashing some speed on the track made good/fast by overnight rains was locally-bred three-year-old Hundred Percent who hustled over the trip in 1:04.48 seconds. Best run of the morning over 600 metres was produced by New Star who was timed in 36.61 seconds. But not far behind was Reign Of Fire who clocked 36.71 for the same distance. Most other horses did pace work, and are expected to do some letdown gallops on Tuesday morning.

Seen out pacing were the grey speed merchant Napoleon, nickhamed The Emperor.  He went over 1000 metres in 1:12.42 seconds, while Preffered Share went over the same trip in a shade slower — 1:12.83 seconds. Here are the gallops recorded yesterday:
400 METRES — Outburst 29.93; Regent Boy 29.97; Lady Croft and Pile Of Cash 27.95; Bite De Bullet 29.64; Dunsborough and ex-Let’s Get Cracking 28.17; Ex-Honey and ex-Guest Appearance 26.01; Alex 27.77; Indian Decision 26.02; Skye 29.96; Sheer Magic 28.13.
600 METRES — If Only 43.93; New Star 36.61; Loughranne 44.99; Richie Rich 37.47; Phantom Menace 44.99; Justice 37.95; Daurian 42.34; Reign Of Fire 36.71; Mutola and Once In A Lifetime 37.27; Cotonou 40.87; Tora Bora and Millenium Dancer 36.07; Sky Lite 40.54; Hatrick 36.70; X To Board 38.98; Seductive 36.98.
800 METRES — Francesca 58.25; Finest Gem 56.90; Golden Honour 51.780; Maracas Bay 54.13; Stormy Season 55.65; Shezabute 54.19; El Guerrouj 53.56; Affirm Decision 54.96; Splitting Image 52.41; Bold Fapp 53.25; Ula 53.29; Tricky Guy 57.75; Autrigeno Victory 52.05.
100 METRES — Napoleon 1:12.42; Hundred Percent 1:04.48; Preffered Share 1:12.83; Kalyan 1:02.88; Gaza Strip 1:05.87; Pattie’s No Anger 1:05.08; City Of Lights and From Now Until 1:02.70; Golden Shuffleur 1:08.37.