Ginger Bay could stop ‘The Class’

BARBADIAN trainer Robert Pierce has fallen in love with Top Of The Class but still thinks he has the ammunition to stop the “big horse” from winning the Royal Oak Derby on Republic Day, Wednesday,  at Santa Rosa Park, Arima,  and deny him the prestigious triple crown.

Pierce who will be saddling Ginger Bay in the 2000 Blue Riband event for West Indian-bred three-year-olds, was high in praise for the Glenn Mendez-trained triple crown aspirant and thinks Top Of The Classs is the type of horse to do well at the Garisson Savannah racecourse in Barbados. “He is not an exceptionally big horse and with his speed will adapt nicely to the tight right-handed course at home,” he said at the yesterday’s Arima Race Club brunch at the trainers’ stand at the Santa Rosa facility. Pierce promised to send out Ginger Bay, the Sir David Seale-owned colt, bred by Sandiford Prince out of Country Clover with guns blazing. Ginger Bay who has won twice from 15 lifetime starts does not have good tactical speed but is the type of  runner who puts in his best work at the end of his races. “He was unfortunate in most of his races at home,” Pierce said. “Because of his come-from-behind style of running he has met with a lot of traffic which was responsible for him not winning  more races,” he said. “The track here, besides it’s beauty, is much larger and will suit Ginger Bay’s laid-back style of running,” he added.

Ginger Bay was the last of three Bajan invaders  to arrive here for Wednesday’s “big race.” The bay colt flew in on Monday for the tough 2000 metres assigment for which 15 runners would be vying for the top six prizes in the event worth $200,000, with $120,000 going  to the winner. Pierce said  his runner is accustomed to the sand and has been working left-handed at home in preparation for the Grade One race. Jamar Maughn who has been booked to partner Ginger Bay in the the Derby was expected to fly in yesterday. Pierce said Ginger Bay who is still in quarantine will be having his final preparatory gallop today.  

Following are gallops recorded yesterday:
400 METRES: Phantom Bidder - 22.77, good (Boxes); Shezabute - 23.53, good; Seductive - 23.68, good; Magen - 23.37, good; Toronto Star and Lovely Pearl - 23.03, good. Affirm Decision - 24.17, good; Jay Low and What Left - 22.87, good (Boxes); Speedfuhso - 23.2, good;  Bold Fapp - 26.52, handily; Carnival Messiah - 29.07, pacing. Game High - 26.21, handily; Sugar Mike - 28.05, pacing. Miss Emma - 26.89, handily. In Swinger - 25.16, handily; Alamanamou - 28.97, pacing; Mandela - 26.00, handily; Alibi Iki - 26.55, handily; First Time - 25.93, handily; Alex - 28.50, pacing; J D Great and River Way - 25.90, handily; Ex I Love Jazz - 26.18, handily; Java Takeover - 28.99, pacing; Outburst - 25.50, handily; Cold Risk - 26.20, handily.

600 METRES: Return To Sender and Sure Wager - 36.56, good (Boxes); New Star and Maid Of Honour - 37.03, good; The Chairman and Honor Bound - 34.97, good (Boxes); Sou Sou Moni and Kay Gee Bee - 36.92, good; Squeezed Moment and Hollywood Star - 34.83, good; Wild Life - 35.09, good; Gaza Strip - 35.56, good; J D’s Express and You’ve Got Mail - 35.98, good; Undercover Angel and Zalyam - 36.31, good; Politics and Tricky Guy - 35.69, good; Twist N’Turn - 36.70, good; Bonus Point - 41.68, pacing; Ring Dang Do and Punto A Punto - 37.17, handily; Iron Will - 38.49, handily; Winning Trick - 38.40, handily; Finest Gem - 42.03, pacing; Kaser’s Gold - 38.37, handily; Tribal Place, Principle and Chief Of Staff - 37.25, handily; Poetry - 44.56, pacing; Due Dilligence - 40.34, handily; Takeover, Runaway Rocket, Angelino and Privilege - 42.78, pacing; Chief Commander and Atlantic Breeze - 38.08, handily; Morgan Heritage - 38.74, handily; Sir Vidia - 38.44, handily; 2 Sharp - 41.35, handily; Kalyan - 41.35, handily; Undisputed - 41.04, handily; Lady Secret and Twice The Jet - 40.50, handily; Mystile - 39.98, handily; Naturelly Classy - 44.05, pacing; La Nina - 44.77, pacing; Top Of The Class - 37.90, handily; Sheer Magic, Miss D D Walton, and Pysite Tale - 41.40, handily.

800 METRES: Gold Conveyor - 46.84, good; Isle Be There - 50.85, good; Bazodee Gal - 50.56, good; Smart And Lucky  and Fabulous risk - 48.34, good; Digital Alarm - 59.17, pacing; Invincibility - 56.56, pacing. Hundred Percent - 53.56, handily; Napoleon - 58.42, pacing; Van Nistelrooy - 51.71, handily; Super Grey - 53.81, handily; Not This Time - 58.27, handily; Serah’s Trick - 51.86, handily; French Academy - 53.03, handily; Outswinger - 51.88, handily; Dutchess Trembley - 53.64, handily; Golden Shufleur - 59.27, pacing; Red Hill - 55.27, handily; Ex Smoothawn - 54.40, handily; Ex Cabaret - 57.30, pacing; Under Influence and Yaa Asantewaa - 51.09, handily; Sure Honey - 59.40, pacing; Indian Trouble - 54.91, handily.

1000 METRES: Fortalezza - 1:08.56, handily.