Oaks runners take centre stage

HORSES were out in their numbers on the exercise course at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday, among which were several three-year-old fillies for whom subscriptions were paid for the Oak Stakes, one of two feature events on Emancipation Day, August 1. Reign Of Fire, who ran a corker late last month behind Affirm Decision after being indoors for two months, looked to have come on since. The Kurt De Freitas-owned and trained daughter of Vandross/Fire And Fury who broke her  maiden in March, was sent in company with the speedy Finest Gem over 600 metres. And the pair went neck and neck for most of the way before Reign Of Fire poked her head in front close to the finish to record 36.6 seconds on the clock. Lady Rossie, another Oaks entrant who have not seen competition for some time, was sent to re-acquaint herself with the boxes. The Terrence Bates inmate showed some spark in the backstretch, posting 37.65 seconds between the 1200 and 600 metre markers before her fractions began falling away. Firestorm continues to impress in her preparations leading up to next month’s 2000 metres event. The Jack Debideen trainee was out very early in the morning before heavy showers changed conditions from good to sloppy. Working with raceday rider Ricardo Jadoo in her saddle she registerd 49.83 seconds over the last 800 metres of the course. Millenium Dancer was the other to have caught the eye. The progressive daughter of Kimafoutiesa/Early Dancer, for whom a penalty of $1600 was paid to be among the Oaks field was strong throughtout her spin over 1000 metres timed in 1:03.89 seconds.

Following are yesterday’s recorded gallops:
400 METRES: Napoleon - 29.17, pacing. Squeezed Moment - 29.99, pacing. Due Dilligence and Fresh Mandate and Bound To Dot Com - 26.31, handily. Running Trick - 25.72, handily. Chief of Staff - 28.75, pacing. Ex Safety Deposit and Ex Silicious - 27.86, pacing. Ex Honey and Ex Guest Appearance - 24.03, good. Tribal Place - 28.78, pacing. Panama Belle - 27.77, pacing. Ex Bora Bora - 28.65, pacing. Ex That Mass Dancer - 29.97, pacing. Bazodee Gal - 24.31, good. Dunsborough - 23.95, good. Joint Venture - 25.15, handily. What Left - 26.89, handily.
600 METRES: Balthazar - 39.98, handily. Cat Woman - 44.86, pacing. Bound To Fly - 44.70, pacing. Indian Decision - 42.18, pacing. Bite De Bullet - 44.97, pacing. Kay Gee Bee - 41.84, pacing. Skye - 44.19, pacing. Alex - 39.14, ridden out. Lovely Pearl - 38.87, handily.
Finest Gem and Reign Of Fire - 36.06, good. Isle Be There - 43.89, pacing. Regent Boy - 38.00, handily. Super Grey - 40.66, easy. Sweet Tempo - 41.16, easy. Touch Wood - 43.93, pacing. Ex Up Tempo and Ex Lets Get Cracking - 44.98, pacing. Mary Magdalene - 40.58, handily. Shezabute - 43.12, pacing. Lady Rossi - 37.65, handily (Boxes). Tora Bora and Ex Her Majesty Rose - 41.46, handily. Storming Wind - 39.67, handily. Ex Hullaballo - 38.23, good.
 
800 METRES: Firestorm - 49.83, good. In Swinger - 59.93, pacing. Invincibility - 57.96, pacing. Pile Of Cash and Lady Croft - 52.99, handily. Sir Vidia - 49.43, good. Francesca - 49.87, good. Honor Bound - 54.06, handily. Sera’s Trick - 51.59, ridden out. Dottie’s Way - 53.92, handily. Gold Conveyor - 51.58, handily.

1000 METRES: Once On A Lifetime - 1:08.03, handily. Duchess Trembly - 1:08.73, handily. Game High - 1:01.66, good. Millenium Dancer - 1:03.89 handily. Mutola - 1:10.94, pacing. Splitting Image - 1:03.31, good. Undisputed and Naturelly Classy - 1:04.03, handily.

1200 METRES: You’ve Got Mail - 1:23.40, pacing.