Sugar Mike smashes record, wins President’s Cup

IT was sweet success for the Samlalsingh clan at the Emancipation Day holiday racing programme of the Arima Race Club at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday as they took away both co-feature races. But not so for owner-trainer-breeder Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj who saw four of his runners in the seven-horse field finish 1-2-3-4 in the day’s opening event for two-year-olds, only to have the race declared void under Rule 52 of the Rules of Racing.

This happened because the race was run off at the wrong distance.  Instead of 1000 metres, the event was run at a distance of 1100 metres. It is understood that by agreement between Maharaj and ARC president Gerard Ferreira, the race will be re-run next race day, August 9. For the Samlalsinghs however, the first success came in the President’s Cup over 1900 metres, when Bertwin watched his Sugar Mike annihilate his six rivals, including pre-race favourite Phantom Bidder. The four-year-old American-bred colt, cleverly ridden by jockey Brian Harding, was kept just in the shade of the early pace makers, which included Phantom Bidder. He ranged up to The Bidder 300 metres out, and when he accelerated he left the favourite as though standing to go on for a seven-and-a-half length victory in the new record time of 1:56.85 seconds, smashing the eight-year-old clocking registered by Sian’s Gold  back in 1996. Phantom Bidder ran on for second with Dottie’s Way third and Invincibility fourth.

The Samlalsinghs celebrated further two races later, when Sweet Tempo strode away from her field, quickening inside the final 200 metres of the 2000 metres event, for an emphatic five-and-a-half-length victory in the colours of Merlin Samlalsingh. The Tempo took over the running 900 metres out and there was no challenge after a brief attempt by Golden Honour who galloped on for second with an outclassed Firestorm struggling in third and Cornerstone a disappointing fourth. Sweet Tempo’s victory gave Glenn Mendez his fourth of the day to be the leading trainer, while apprentice rider Gary Laban landed two winners, to join both Ryan Thomas and Venezuelan Wilmer Galviz. There were a number of upset winners on the day, none more than when Cotonou whipped her 12 rivals in the Optional Claiming sixth race over 1250 metres. The filly rewarded backers with $93 and $13.70 on the tote, and with Shezabute second and Yankee Eagle third, the trifecta dividend was $5,321.20.  No turfite managed to put together the superfecta combination however, with Tour D’Argent fourth. But the biggest superfecta dividend of $8,646.40 was paid out on the Maid Of Honour, Gaza Strip, Mandela, Squeezed Moment combination. Another outsider to oblige was Bonus Point who paid $14.10 and $4.70 on the tote, and with Badpayjameasee, Ula and Soca Tempo following him home, the superfecta was a handsome $7,683.20.