Carnival Messiah wins feature — only just

JOCKEY Ricky Jadoo drove Carnival Messiah to a short-head victory over a determined Man Of Class, to take the feature Allowance race at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday. The pair matched strides from the off with Man Of Class holding a very slight edge throughout the 1200 metres event. Speedy Champagne Wager who was slow out of the starting stalls, joined the leaders 700 metres out, but as the battle was enjoined by the principals, the American-bred filly went into reverse gear. Jockey Rajpaul Rajkumar kept Man Of Class going and as the Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj-owned and trained gelding appeared to have it won, “The Messiah” just managed to get his head in front at the line. Cold Risk scored a stunning upset victory in the Optional Claiming event for non-winners of two races over 1100 metres on the turf course. Owned by the A&K Stables, the filly rewarded backers with $43.90 and $7.60 on the tote, and along with runner-up Estilon and third Stormy Season, the trifecta dividend was a healthy $4,008.60 and with Lazar Wolf fourth, the superfecta payment was $5,467.60. But the biggest superfecta of the day came in the final event on the quartet of Peace Consort, Storming Wind, Ula and Alibi Ike — a whopping $10,461.90. Brian Harding booted home three winners on the day’s 10-race programme to be the leading rider, while both Jadoo and Venezuelan Wilmer Galviz had two winners each. But Harold Chadee was by far the top trainer, saddling four winners with Bertram Dookeran having two on the day. Because of continuous rain yesterday which made conditions sloppy the eighth race was removed from the turf course and run off on the main prepared track instead. Next race day is on Saturday.