O’Brien runners impress Santa Rosa railbirds

HORSES trained by John O’Brien were firing on all cylinders on the gallops course at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday. The champion trainer, who by normal standards has been experiencing a lean spell, seemingly  picked up the pace with his runners in  the hope of bridging the four-win gap opened up by Glenn Mendez, current leader in the race for the trainers championship title. The threat to his title saw O’Brien, raising the bar a notch with his juveniles, an indication that they will get their baptism soon. He also has his older runners sparking, posting some spectacular times on the morning for the 1000 metres trip. Creating good impressions over 600 metres were Altlantic Breeze, French Academy and Jay Low. This unraced trio, working the trip as a team, was clocked in 36.80 seconds to attain “good” in the remarks column of the Arima Race Club official clockers’ report. His older runners Isle Be There and Due Dilligence literally flew up the stretch leaving the lesser experienced Fresh Mandate and Bound To Come in their wake.

The first two flashed past the post in 1:00.64 seconds, with the other pair about three lengths adrift. The dust had not quite settled when Chanticleer followed up with another grand performance over the same acreage. The Iron Horse who is closing in on the $1 million earnings mark, showed that he still has an appetite to compete by registering 1:00.94 seconds on the clock over 1000 metres. Also showing up well on the gallops were Duchess Trembly over 400 metres, Return To Sender, Affirm Decision and Ballybunion, over 600 metres, and El Presidente, Ruby Scores, Lady Honoree, Morgan Heritage, Fromnowuntil, Maracas Bay,  X To Board and Cyber Five over 800 metres.
Following are gallops recorded yesterday:

400 METRES: Duchess Trembly - 24.22, good. Lovely Pearl - 25.02, handily. Tribal Place - 25.15, handily. Tactical Bid - 26.75, easy. Ex If I Do, Fabulous Risk and Smark and Lucky - 26.01, handily. Misty Rose - 26.84, handily. Blue Reign 25.83, handily. Ex Little Rose - 29.72, pacing. Ex Narciss Toi - 29.88, pacing. First Time - 29.03, pacing. Ex Rhythmic Dancer - 29.09, pacing.

600 METRES: Affirm Decision - 34.92, good. Ballybunion - 36.09, good. Return To Sender - 36.18, good. Atlantic Breeze, French Academy and Jay Low - 36.80, good. Dancz With Class - 38.10, handily. Hundred Percent - 43.97, pacing. Storiming Wind - 41.77, easy. Preffered Share - 38.62, easy. Twist N’Turn - 39.15 easy. Winning Trick - 38.77, handily. Ex Honour And Glory - 38.12, handily. Over And Above - 44.99, pacing. El Gringo, Sou Sou Moni and Ex Coo - 37.77, handily (Boxes). Ex Roulette and Ex Moonlight - 44.30, pacing. Ex Caribbean Princess and Bold Fapp - 41.00, easy. Undercover Angel - 37.17, ridden out. Mir On Fire - 38.51, handily.

800 METRES: El Presidente and Ruby Scores - 49.93, good, El Presidente better. Lady Honoree - 48.67, good. Morgan Heritage and Fromnowuntil - 49.48, good. Cyber Five - 49.45, good. Maracas Bay and X To Board - 49.68, good. Peace Consort - 55.22, pacing. Dunsborough and Peace Majesty - 54.58, handily.

1000 METRES: Due Dilligence, Isle Be There, Fresh Mandate and Bound To Dot Com - 1:00.64. Due Dilligence and Isle Be There better. Chanticleer - 1:00.94 good. Phantom Menace - 1:04.39, handily. Cold Risk - 1:03.79, good. Estilon - 1:07.16, handily. Miss Beautiful - 1:04.70, handily. Canaima - 1:06.16, handily. Daurian - 1:09.56, handily.

1200 METRES: Miss Emma - 1:23.06, handily.