Bajan Connection, Sweet Tempo ready for Saturday

BAJAN CONNECTION who has been in trememdous form recently with a win and second in her last two starts, showed she will not be easily beaten in the Restricted Handicap over 1100 metres on Saturday, Day 21 of this year’s Arima Race Club season.

On a track made wet/fast by overnight rains, the filly sped over 600 metres in just over 11 seconds to the furlong, completing the gallop in 34.6 seconds. And Sweet Tempo, a disappointing seventh in the CLICO Midsummer Classic on Indian Arrival Day, June 20, displayed much sparkle in a gallop over a similar distance. The Freshly Squeezed/Up Tempo offspring, relishing underfoot conditions, hustled over trip in 34.7 seconds. Not many horses were seen out yesterday as trainers took things easy with three days before the 10-race programme at Santa Rosa Park, Arima. But also showing some fire at the gallops was Misa’s Gold who went over 600 metres in 37.2 seconds.

Celebration Time who followed home Top Of The Class in the CLICO Midsummer Classic and is topweighted for Saturday’s 1750 metres race, clocked an excellent time of 1:02.8 seconds, and must be noted in the event for three-year-olds who have not won more than three career races. And Glenn Mendez stablemate Squeezed Moment was a shade slower over the same trip completed in 1:03.4 seconds. Another good gallop came from Beautiful Mind, also trained by Mendez. The Kdanzc/Mind Set three-year-old bay colt stepped 800 metres in a good 48.8 seconds to show off  his well being. Most other trainers will round off their preparations for Saturday’s meet with  some faster work today.

Here are gallops recorded yesterday:
 400 METRES - TRAVEL AGENT - 29.9.
600 METRES - BAJAN CONNECTION - 34.6; FIRST TIME41.9; MANDELA - 42.4; MISA’S GOLD - 37.2; SONG OF FREEDOM- 44.9; SWEET LAURA LEE - 44.6; SWEET TEMPO 34.7.
800 METRES - BEAUTIFUL MIND - 48.8; CREME CARAMEL - 59.9; EL GUERROUJ - 59.9; JOINT VENTURE - 54.9.
1000 METRES - CELEBRATION TIME - 1:02.8; HONOR BOUND - 1:13.6;
SQUEEZED MOMENT - 1:03.4.