On the biggest day traditionally for horse racing in Trinidad and Tobago, Horse of the Year 2013/14 Bigman In Town will be seeking the hat-trick when he goes to post for the Chief Secretary’s Gold Cup on Boxing Day.
The Baskaran Bassawh-owned horse will be seeking to win his eleventh race on the trot in the prestigious Staying Championship of the Southern Caribbean. Last year, Bigman In Town won and it will be a major upset if he is beaten. Based purely on the form book, Bigman In Town has to run way below his best to lose.
The field for the $450,000 purse also includes last year’s runner-up and third Bergeron Rodeo and Thisonesforron. Also listed to compete are last year’s Triple Crown winner Momentum and Lucky Stranger, an American-bred three-year-old which will make his debut in this event. Bigman In Town and Nobel Abrego will romp to victory.
The juvenile classic fillies will be up first in the Tourism Secretary St Ann’s Stakes and the field of ten includes Latin Dancer, the only winner in the field. Her main rivals will be Newthinginthong and Winning Report. Glenn Mendez has his filly ready to do herself justice and Latin Dancer can improve pass them all. However, O’Brien has a great touch with his juveniles and could upset the favourite with his Winning Report.
The Merlin Samlalsingh-owned The Gatsby looks head and shoulders above his rivals in the St James Stakes for the Two-Year-Olds Colts and Geldings. The Gatsby won his last race in as fast a time as was posted by the winner of the Stewards Cup, Control Unit, so this race should be little more than a canter.
Based on his wins, there seems to be precious little that will be able to live with him. O’Brien’s Desert Dancer, which has also won his starts with consummate ease will attempt to make a race of it.
Magical Victory, a winner of his only start, should also share a part of the purse. O’Brien also has Howsweetitis and With Anticipation engaged and they could run well. But beating one of the most impressive juveniles seen at Santa Rosa Park, in a long time is asking for a miracle.
The day’s racing is being sponsored by The Tobago House of Assembly. In announcing the sponsorship, deputy chief secretary of the THA, Tracey Davidson, who has the portfolio for Tourism, noted that role sport plays in toursim. Post time for the 44th and final day of the 2015 season is noon.
BOXING DAY CARD
R1: 12.00 – RATED 25 & LOWER – 1100M - (TURF) - $28,000.
437 1 Waka Waka W Debysingh/P Badrie 57 Chance
734 2 Copa Glory B Nurse/L C Seecharan 57 Respected
823 3 Messi C Roberts/J Boodramsing 57 Can take this
540 4 Always Ready H Chadee/P Husbands 57 Can take this
472 5 Mary's Girl Chile R Ramroop/J Stephen 54.5 Ready
064 6 Precious Lilly M Carew Jnr/D Butcher 55.5 Good sort
099 7 She Is A Princess B Persad/R Jadoo 57 In tough
247 8 All Is Yours I Danglade/E Ramsammy 57 Can surprise
008 9 Something Black R A Dube/D Blackman 54.5 Speedy
345 10 Poppy Love L Alexis/R Ali 56.5 Outsider
070 11 Bas Choice R A Dube/S Jadoo 55.5 No form
478 12 Stormin Angel T Thomas/N Samaroo 55.5 Shown speed
006 13 Sweet Parang Music J Mosca/L A Seecharan 51.5 No form
703 14 Dig Deep A Gonzalez/L A Seecharan 51.5 Can go close
477 15 Super Easy B Persad/A Robles 57 Outsider
900 16 Rosie Dream J Rampersad/K Razack 54.5 Can take this
509 17 Captain Charisma H Gobin/K Balgobin 57 In tough
618 18 Red Wine H Chadee/N Flavenney 57 In and out
000 19 Hesuntouchabull R Stephen/B Pahal 57 No form
800 20 Eyes Of The Wolf J Rampersad/R Balgobin 49.5 Shown little
720 21 Gold Coin T Thomas/B Boodramsing 57 Running on
551 22 Lady Marisa C Roberts/N Mohammed 56.5 Repeat
530 23 Caspian Sea T Thomas/A Poon 57 In tough
R2: 12.35PM – TRINIDAD & TOBAGO-BRED 3 Y.O. & OVER MAIDENS – 1100M (TURF) - $43,000.
608 1 I'mmissinghighbury B Persad/D Butcher 44.5 Outsider
330 2 Helena's Pride A Nunes/P Badrie 48.5 Chance
090 3 Ichibobo B Persad/D Rodrigo 51.5 Shown little
-07 4 Spicy Lou E De Freitas/B Pahal 54 Improving
087 5 Glorioussaga H Gobin/J Boodramsing 52 Outside shot
-74 6 Yebo H Gobin/K Balgobin 57 Can surprise
000 7 Carlos J Rampersad/N Patrick 47 No form
607 8 Ragnar H Chadee/N Flavenney 48.5 Place chance
009 9 Argentina R Ramroop/T Phillips 49.5 Must improve
500 10 Twist Of Fate H Gobin/N Mohammed 47 Outside shot
222 11 Electrify M Carew Jnr/R Ali 55.5 Good sort
246 12 Manu Mahal J O'Brien/K Khelawan 55 Will go close
089 13 Vested Power C Roberts/N Mohammed 54 Outside shot
380 14 Theradioannouncers B Persad/D Rodrigo 47 Lost way
472 15 Danceinthepark R Stephen/L A Seecharan 40.5 Can place
--0 16 Spoil Child E De Freitas/R Jadoo 54 In tough
033 17 Rio Grande T Thomas/K Razack L Keizer 54.5 Respected
920 18 Set Me Free R Ramroop/L Keizer 54.5 Ready
864 19 Luminary C Roberts/L C Seecharan 48.5 Big shout
966 20 Kentucky Woman B Persad/D Butcher 44.5 Respected
345 21 San Antonio H Gobin/P Badrie 49.5 Don’t trust
--- 22 Jimmy Joe R A Dube/S Jadoo 57 Debut
-06 23 Mischief Maker J Lyder/J Boodramsing 57 Can go close
049 24 Indomeneo R Ramroop/N Samaroo 48.5 Chance
090 25 Izdihar J Lyder/F Razack 49.5 Shown little
R3: 1.05PM – RATED 70-55 – 1700M - $43,000.
758 1 Nettoyer H Gobin/J Boodramsing 55.5 Surpriser
137 2 Market Rally J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 57 Can go close
862 3 Prince Zeshan H Chadee/P Husbands 56 Ready
182 4 Cloud Nine D Bennett/C LaraAvila 53.5 Well weighted
-82 5 Jayden's Girl H Gobin/A Robles 55.5 Chance
003 6 Kodo G Mendez/N Samaroo 56 Running on
225 7 Blue Oracle S Khan/R Jadoo 54.5 Chance
-07 8 Moonsilver H Gobin/K Balgobin 56.5 In tough
R4: 1.40PM – RATED 40 & LOWER – 1100M (TURF) - $32,000.
800 1 Amarillo Ro J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 57 Good sort
530 2 Double Roses J Lyder/D Rodrigo 54.5 Shown speed
076 3 Princess Britney T Thomas/S Rodrigo 53 Outsider
959 4 Layla W Debysingh/P Badrie 52 In tough
254 5 Super Sonic T Thomas/L Seecharan 52 Running on
656 6 Princess Warrior B Persad/L Keizer 57 Speedy
157 7 Back In Black W Debysingh/R Ali 53 Can surprise
311 8 Cavalleria B Persad/A Robles 53 Hattrick-Seeker
247 9 Don Pedro J O'Brien/K Khelawan 57 Good sort
971 10 Pearl Secret M Carew Jnr/C Lara Avila 53.5 Repeat
749 11 D'Sportsman H Chadee/P Husbands 56 Can take this
736 12 Little Otis T Thomas/B Pahal 51 Staying on
821 13 Chelsi Magic C Roberts/R Jadoo 54 Speedy
237 14 Bulletproof H Gobin/E Ramsammy 57 Chance
990 15 Satya Treasure J Lyder/N Patrick 57 Shown speed
610 16 Intangibility R Ramroop/J Stephen 57 In and out
622 17 Peppermint Dr J Suratsing/N Mohammed 53.5 Chance
223 18 Cover You Donkey L Alexis/N Samaroo 52 Don’t trust
327 19 Surya K De Silva Jr/J Boodramsing 57 In tough
496 20 Sweetmaninsouth A Nunes/D Khelawan 57 Running out
483 21 Emily's Gold B Persad/R Balgobin 53 Outside shot
328 22 Treasure Queen H Gobin/B Boodramsing 53 In and out
031 23 Ready And Alert C Roberts/L C Seecharan 55 Repeat
421 24 Lion's Portion L Latchmansin/L A Seecharan 52 Repeat
495 25 Pure Happiness L Alexis/N Samaroo 43.5 In tough
178 26 Who Is The Problem H Singh/A Poon 53.5 Can go close
664 27 Lady Sage A Gonzalez/D Boodram 53 Speedy
R5: 2.15PM – RATED 55-40 – 1350M - $36,400
2R1 1 Red Cloud R A Dube/K Balgobin 57 Running on
584 2 Country Boy H Chadee/R Balgobin 53.5 Respected
076 3 Maximus H Gobin/J Boodramsing 55 Good run
134 4 Root Of Jesse R Bartolo/R Ali 55 In tough
177 5 Irois Forest A Nunes/P Badrie 55.5 Must improve
282 6 Undulation T Thomas/N Samaroo 57 Big chance
824 7 Serengeti J O'Brien/D Khelawan 54.5 Will go close
362 8 Just Honest T Thomas/S Rodrigo 55.5 Outsider
256 9 Amritsar H Gobin/J Stephen 57 Speedy
611 10 Farad B Persad/A Robles 54.5 Hattrick-seeker
118 11 Consideritdone H Gobin/L C Seecharan 54.5 In tough
442 12 High Octane J O'Brien/K Khelawan 57 One to beat
R6: 2.50PM – RATED 80-50 – 1300M - $48,500.
--- 1 Whisper Light G Mendez/R Ali 54.5 Can take this
944 2 American Ranger H Gobin/J Boodramsing 57 Must improve
366 3 One Fortheroad H Gobin/N Abrego 57 Running on
324 4 Free Passage D Mosca/N Patrick 55 Big shout
145 5 Soca Rhapsody A Nunes/P Badrie 56 In good form
243 6 Eye See You T Thomas/S Rodrigo 54.5 Respected
311 7 Criminal Intent J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 55.5 One to catch
238 8 Goliath's Boy H Gobin/E Ramsammy 53 Outside shot
626 9 Dunkirk Express S Khan/C Lara Avila 51.5 Don’t trust
519 10 Canfield Casino H Chadee/P Husbands 57 Can go close
112 11 Swept Away G Mendez/N Samaroo 53 Big shout
581 12 Wild Shuffle T Thomas/N Mohammed 56 Running on
R7: 3.25PM – ST ANN’S STAKES (GRADE I) – WEST INDIAN-BRED 2 Y.O. FILLIES – 1350M - $135,000.
--3 1 Full Moon J Mosca/N Mohammed 55 Improving
332 2 Newthinginthong S Khan/P Husbands 55 Will be around
-41 3 Latin Dancer G Mendez/N Samaroo 55 One to beat
-67 4 Royal Luminary H Gobin/J Stephen 55 Must improve
--6 5 Magisterial J O'Brien/K Khelawan 55 Good sort
553 6 Sorayah B Persad/A Robles 55 In tough
--8 7 Rocket Princess J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 55 Improving
--8 8 Main Sail A Nunes/P Badrie 55 Must improve
-23 9 Winning Report J O'Brien/E Ramsammy 55 Can go close
--- 10 Wonderbabe H Gobin/D Khelawan 55 Galloping well
R8: 4.00PM – ST JAMES STAKES (GRADE I) – WEST INDIAN-BRED 2 Y.O COLTS & GELDINGS – 1350M - $135,000
-11 1 The Gatsby A Nunes/P Badrie 55 The winner
-11 2 Desert Dancer J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 55 Runner-up
--4 3 Peace N Glory B Persad/A Robles 55 Improving
--8 4 Flash Dance H Gobin/D Khelawan 55 On upgrade
-64 5 Born A Prince J O'Brien/C Lara Avila 55 Improving
--- 6 Tiger's Eye G Mendez/N Samaroo 55 Respected
077 7 Black Onyx J O'Brien/N Flavenney 55 Can surprise
--1 8 Magical Victory J O'Brien/K Khelawan 55 Will go close
251 9 With Anticipation J O'Brien/E Ramsammy 55 Improving fast
--9 10 Mafia Man H Chadee/P Husbands 55 Outsider
422 11 Howsweetitis J O'Brien/N Patrick 55 Can hit the board
--- 12 Wall Street A Nunes/N Abrego 55 Debut
R9: 4.35PM – GOLD CUP (GRADE I) – IMPORTED 2 Y.O. & OVER AND WEST INDIAN-BRED 3 Y.O. & OVER – 2000M - $450,000
561 1 Transpire D Ojar/E Ramsammy 57 Pace-setter
622 2 Bergeron Rodeo S Khan/P Husbands 57 Running on
526 3 Missile Assault H Gobin/K Balgobin 57 In tough
343 4 Thisonesforron J O'Brien/D Khelawan 57 Good run
231 5 Nominee K De Silva Jr/A Robles 57 Will go well
--- 6 Lucky Stranger G Mendez/N Samaroo 54 Can surprise
111 7 Bigman In Town H Gobin/N Abrego 57 The winner
461 8 Sacred Trust J W-Samaroo/K Khelawan 54 Not a stayer
813 9 Scotus G Mendez/C Lara Avila 57 Up against it
462 10 Momentum J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 54 Can surprise
R10: 5.05PM – RATED 45 & LOWER – 1350M - $33,000
383 1 Delightful S Khan/J Boodramsing 57 Speedy
077 2 Rhea's Toy Soldier B Persad/A Robles 57 In tough
338 3 Red Howler L Latchmansin/N Mohammed 55.5 Running on
231 4 The Candidate J O'Brien/T Phillips 54.5 Repeat
255 5 Fleet Admiral H Gobin/K Balgobin 56.5 Good sort
412 6 Tan Tan J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 54.5 Will go close
122 7 Mikeisback H Gobin/R Ali 57 Finishing fast
070 8 Brilliance G Mendez/C Lara Avila 55 Lost way
-21 9 Sunset Cloud L Alexis/E Ramsammy 57 Chance
412 10 Madiba T Thomas/R Balgobin 57 Outside shot
401 11 A Great Moment H Chadee/P Husbands 57 Speedy
324 12 Al Kahina J Rampersad/R Jadoo 54.5 Chance
686 13 Naughty N Nice S Jardim/P Badrie 56.5 Respected
323 14 Way To Go H Chadee/N Flavenney 56.5 In good form
000 15 U Crazy Diamond B Persad/D Rodrigo 52.5 No form
710 16 Hurricane Harry G Mendez/N Samaroo 55.5 Good sort
851 17 Colonial Cat J W-Samaroo/K Khelawan 57 Repeat