None to beat ‘The Class’

TOP OF THE CLASS can give trainer Glenn Mendez an unprecedented second Triple Crown by winning today’s Blue Riband event, the Royal Oak Derby on Day 27 of the Arima Race Club 2003 season at Santa Rosa Park, Arima.

Two seasons ago Carnival Messiah became the first horse to achieve the Triple Crown feat since racing was centralised at Arima nine years ago, and in a twist of fate it was also in 1994 Mendez received his licence and began his career. Winner of the Easter Guineas and Midsummer Classic by wide margins, Top Of The Class stands out among his peers, and it would take an extraordinary run from one of his 14 rivals to lower his colours in today’s Group One event over 2000 metres. The son of Freshly Squeezed/Crescendo, owned jointly by Rupert Leong Poi and Merlin Samlalsingh showed off  his undoubted class in mastering older horses in an allowance prep race, leading up to today’s Blue Riband event. And the manner in which The Class closed off his preparations for today’s race with a mind-boggling 58.77 seconds timing over 1000 metres two Sunday ago, it would take a super horse to beat him.

Only Evaristo and High Security produced a similar timing prior to their head-to-head battle in the 1998 running of the Clasico Internacional Del Caribe here. Those credentials prompted  octogenarian trainer Sydney Otway to remark:  “Top Of The Class is the definition of a true champion. He will be the shortest priced favourite for a Derby and it would be a scandal if he loses.” There is plenty at stake for Top Of The Class in this 72nd running of the Derby. Apart from the $120,000 winners’ purse, connections will rake in a $250,000 bonus offered by CLICO for achieving the Triple Crown.  Although racing pundits made Top Of The Class out as unbeateable, Mendez is not the type to sit on his laurels and will be aiming for a clean sweep of the top prizes in the $200,000 event. Mendez also have two other runners in the field, Sweet Tempo, owned by the same sydnicate as The Class and Celebration Time, runner-up to his more illustrious stablemate in the Midsummer Classic earlier this year.

John O’Brien has a record second to none in the Derby and though the champion trainer has been seeing lean times lately, could fill the runner-up spot with Due Dilligence. Having shown ability to be up on the pace, O’Brien chose to open the stamina pipe of the son of Freshly Squeezed/Cabaret for the big occasion. But it is a toss-up for second position which will not be easy an forecast, with  Golden Honour, Ginger Bay, Super Grey, Undisputed and Royal Flush holding the engagement. There is a superb support programme to the feature, with the Nursery Stakes and Diamond Stakes also in the limelight. This event for the two-year-old “babes,” sixth on the day’s 10-race programme will be the first of the features.

Trainer Maniram “Boboy” Maharaj has won five of the six events for these juveniles so far this season and can continue his dominance in the 1200 metres event worth $50,000, with Sunday Jewel, Melanie My Love, Java Takeover and Java In Style carrying his colours. Miss Lover Lover and Gold Conveyor have been withdrawn from the 10th running of Diamond Stakes Handicap leaving only six runners to face the starter in this 1350 metres race. But the race will lose none of  its glitter, with new star and topweight Sugar Mike facing a big test with a handily weighted Movietowne Magic and a much improved Phantom Bidder seeking to topple the Grant Lourenco-trained sprinter-stayer for the top slice of the $75,000 purse.