Who will be the Sprint King Monday, November 16 2009
JUST who will be crowned “Sprint King” of the Southern Caribbean this year?
There are a number of pretenders queuing up for the throne in the absence of Storm Street, who will not make a title defence because of injury.
Main contender for the title in the $250,000 feature Stewards Cup at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Saturday, is the Peter Acham-owned three-year-old Blackstone Street. This son of Victory Gallop/Skipping Lass trained by champion Glenn Mendez, is winner of five starts on the local circuit including a tremendous come-from-behind triumph in his most recent outing, a Stakes & Lower Handicap over the 1200 metres distance of Saturday’s race.
But it will not be an open and shut case for the American-bred speedster with stablemate Cactus Amour, fleet-footed Sweet Alex who he just caught at the post and who was racing after a long lay off, locally bred Mister Kingston and Luca’s Gold holding the engagement. Sweet Alex was giving Blackstone Street 2.5 kilos and was beaten only half length, having not raced since January, and is sure to be brought to the Stewards Cup much fitter by ace trainer John O’Brien. Luca’s Gold on his day cannot be easily discounted especially under the charge of the wily Derick Mosca while Mister Kingston represents the second string in the bow of O’Brien.
Should this race be run on a fast track as has been the case at Santa Rosa Park recently, the track record jointly held by Asmira (2001) and Sugar Mike (2003), could well go by. There are two unknown newcomers in the 14-horse field in Ksar Ghilane and Jay Mike which makes the race even more intriguing.
Here are those nominated for the “big race”:
STEWARDS CUP (GRADE 1) - 2 Y.O. & OVER - PURSE: $250,000 -1200 METRES
BLACKSTONE STREET; CACTUS AMOUR; FILCHER; HONEST HERO; JAY MIKE; KSAR GHILANE; JUST IN TIME; LUCA’S GOLD;
MISTER KINGSTON; MUSIC MAESTRO; STRAIGHT AHEAD; STRATEGIC SILENCE; SUMMER CACTUS; SWEET ALEX.
