| Race Day Preview Day 25 Saturday 14th July 2012 | ||||
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RACE DAY PREVIEW DAY 25 SATURDAY 14th JULY 2012 Director Dream in spotlight DIRECTOR DREAM will be in the spotlight when horse racing continues at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Saturday.
The Jamaican-bred will be competing in the first of eight events during the 25th round of the Arima Race Club’s 2012 Season. Director Dream became a potential star almost instantly when he finished a very good fourth in the Midsummer Classic as the least experienced runner in the middle jewel of the triple crown last time out on Indian Arrival Day (May 30). The son of 1,350-metre track record holder Film Director was racing for just the third time in his career and after finishing less than three lengths behind winner Onetokeep, has emerged as a major contender for the Trinidad Derby Stakes – the final jewel – on Republic Day (September 24). A couple weeks before the “Midsummer”, Director Dream threw his rider just before the finish line when he was ahead of the field by more than five lengths. So he is still a maiden. However that is expected to change today when the Merlin Samlalsingh-owned gelding comes up against nine fellow West Indian-bred three-year-old non-winners over 1,750 metres at 1 p.m.
The field also includes Raise Your Glass, who came down from Jamaica just before the triple crown served off with the Easter Guineas on Easter Monday (April 9) and has failed the finish close to the tins in the first two legs.
Deo Maharaj’s chestnut has reportedly had issues with bleeding, but finally earned a cheque for the first time – from four starts – in Trinidad last Saturday when he finished second in a 1,350-metre contest for 60-40 rated horses. Raise Your Glass is not given much of a chance against Director Dream, but the fact that he only faced the starter a week ago, makes the improbable task that much harder. The same can be said about Devika Rani, who finished sixth in the Grade II Gleneagle Stakes over Saturday’s trip last Saturday. However, this Harriram Gobin-trained daughter of A Great Team had gone down by just half-length when she returned from a six-month layoff a month ago and will be eight kilos lighter than Director Dream. The Right Time, a Jamaican-bred filly from the Terrance Thomas barn, has been declared to make her Santa Rosa debut in this event. Director Dream is not the only talented Jamaican-bred classic contender that Mosca had declared as the Juan Navarro-owned pair of One Fortheroad and Free Passage are also on the programme.
However One Fortheroad, who placed fourth in the Guineas in only his third career outing but finished a very disappointing seventh last time out in the “Midsummer”, will only compete if the day’s sixth race is switched from the turf to the main course. We are in the middle of the wet season and all turf races were run on the dirt last Saturday, so there is a chance that fans will get the opportunity to see One Fortheroad in action. The 4.08 p.m. event is a 1,600-metre contest for 60-40 rated horses, but if it is switched the distance will be 150 metres further. A total of 14 horses have been declared, but Oro De Cordoba, who finally scored for the first time on the lawn last time out after being the runner-up on eight occasions, will not compete if the race is switched. There will be HI-5 betting in this race, as well as the curtain event, a 1,300-metre contest which has attracted a strong field of ten horses, rated 70-50. Treasure Girl, who finished third in the “Gleneagle” and Oaks Stakes last year and runner-up in the Santa Rosa Classic, is coming down in class to oppose to likes of Believe It Or Not, who has won three times and finished second on four occasion in his last seven starts, Fleet Admiral, Away Johannesburg, Mambo Cat and Candy Man at 5.25 p.m.
The field of ten also includes Free Passage, who easily beat a respected bunch of West Indian-bred three-year-olds – including Charming Lass and Lady Angelica, who went on the finish second and third, respectively, in the “Gleneagle” last Saturday – a month ago on return from a five-month absence. This gelding has won his two races on the main course and finished second to Sea Gold in First Classic, the only time he faced the starter on the turf. Free Passage is definitely a bright prospect, and although he has not been further that 1,200 metres, owner Navarro has stated that “he could stay all day” and is training him with the Derby in mind. The feature will be contested just before and Mosca will be represented by the out-of-form Navarro-owned Burst Of Energy and the Samlalsingh-owned newcomer Buffalo Solider over 1,750 metres at 4.46 p.m. Ten horses, rated 85-65, have been declared to run over 1,750 metres, including Big Boy Jordan, Esquire, Oasis, 2010 Derby runner-up Go For The Gold and last year’s Guineas third Loan Shark. The first of the three HI-5 betting races will be the fourth event, a 40 & lower contest for West Indian-bred three-year-old and over horses which has yielded 18 to run over 1,100 metres on the grass at 2.53 p.m. And just before, the Pick 6 will get going with a 1,350-metre contest which has attracted a field of eight $14,000-$9,000 Claimers.
There has not been a payout in this wager in last six race days and close to $110,000 will be in the carry-over pool before a single bet is placed.
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 16 July 2012 15:37 ) |