Easy does it for Sugar Mike

SUGAR MIKE destroyed a field of 11 opponents to stride home an emphatic victory in the feature Sagicor Independence Cup on a sloppy track at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday.

From the off in the 1850 metres event on the turf course, jockey Brian Harding had the American-bred bay colt on the firmer outside and close to leader Inswinger who tried to make all. The former champion rider asked his mount to go on 300 metres out and he accelerated to the roar of a huge Independence holiday crowd to go on to a five-and-a-half length victory to take the $120,000 winner’s purse. Inswinger held on for second, but the three Barbados runners showed they will be a force later on Derby Day. Hard Dancer led the Bajan trio, finishing a surprising third, while the better fancied Feet On Flames was fourth after being very prominent early, while Lion Country finished fifth. At the end of the race, Sugar Mike’s owner Bertwin Samlalsingh said he was not surprised at his horse’s easy victory on the turf course, which some turfites felt would be against him. He said: “I am not surprised since he ran on turf at Gulf Stream (USA) and finished a good third.” A big disappointment in yesterday’s feature was second favourite Phantom Bidder who finished a well-beaten 11th.

Another disappointment yesterday was the fourth placed finish of overwhelming favourite and Celebration Time. But the Glenn Mendez-trained colt was last to leave the starting stalls in the Sagicor Life Saver II Handicap over 1750 metres. Sweet Tempo also flopped badly in finishing fourth behind shock winner Ring Dang Do in the Sagicor Endowment Restricted Handicap also over 1750 metres. Ring Dang Do rewarded backers with the biggest tote dividend $51.90 and $800. Also giving backers sound reward for their faith was Kay-Gee-Bee who paid $38.00 and $4.20. Six superfecta dividends surpassed the $1,000 figure, with the best coming on the quartet of Ring Dang Do, Squee Sintru, Gaza Strip, Sweet Tempo —$4,094.80.  And the top three also returned the best trifecta of $4,110.40 Harding had a good day in the saddle landing three winners.  No other jockey had more than one, while Grant Lourenco who saddled Sugar Mike, Douglas Bennett and Stephen Jardim were the leading trainers on the day saddling two winners apiece.