Sweet Tempo wins Santa Rosa Classic

SWEET TEMPO came with a sweeping stretch run to get home by half length and win the feature Santa Rosa Classic at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday. On a track made sloppy by persistent showers, jockey Ricky Jadoo had his mount in mid division as Beautiful Mind and Golden Honour battled out the early pace. These two were joined by Lady Rossie with 800 metres to run and Golden Honour looked to be going the best under the driving of Vaughn Charles. But Francesca who dislodged rider Brian Harding at the start, ranged between The Honour and Beautiful Mind and caused a scrimmage as the horses entered the stretch run in the 1200 metres event worth $60,000. Beautiful Mind ran on stoutly to cross the line second but was later relegated to third after an objection by Charles.

Lovely Pearl created a stunning upset in the sixth race, an optional claiming event, to reward backers with $4.00 and $9.10 on the tote, and with Badpayjamesee and Alibi Ikefollowing home this seven-year-old mare, the trifecta paid a whopping $3,767.40. The hotly fancied Celebration Time got home by a short head in a stirring battle with Due Dilligence in the Handicap race for three-year-olds over 1750 metres. This duo were locked together from the 800 metres marker and it was nip and tuck throughout until Hamiff Emamalie got his mount’s head in front at the line. Leading riders yesterday was Panamanian jockey Nobel Abrego and Jadoo with two winning mounts, while Harold Chadee and Rohit Dube saddled two winners each.