Tuesday, September 18 2012

The Derick Mosca pair of Free Passage and One Fortheroad sent out early notice that they will take a hand in the finish of this year’s 82nd running of the prestigious CNG Trinidad Derby Stakes.

This duo showed they are in peak condition for the 2000 metres race which carries a purse of $500,000.

At Santa Rosa Park, Arima, yesterday morning, the rapidly improving Free Passage, winner of four of his five career starts to date, had stablemate One Fortheroad as company over 1000 metres clocked in a sharp one minute 00.4 seconds.

But Pistons And Rings out of champion trainer John O’Brien’s barn who holds the Derby engagement did pace work over 800 metres in 59.4 seconds. Three -time “Horse of the Year” Bruceontheloose, preparing for his time in the co-feature High Propulsion Diamond Stakes over 1350 metres, was seen pacing over 600 metres in 43.4 seconds. At the official launch of the prestigious race at the Trinidad Hilton yesterday, a cheque for $350,000 was handed over by NGC deputy chairman Roop Chan Chadeesingh to Arima Race Club president Hugh Lee King as their sponsorship of the day’s proposed 10-race programme. The NGC man extolled the virtues of his company’s involvement in a wide spectrum of sports, and pointed out that at their Right On Track programme spotted London Olympic javelin gold medallist Keshorn Walcott and 400 metres king Kirani James of Grenada. Lee King thanked NGC for their involvement in sponsoring the day for the second year.

Pre-race Derby favourite Onetokeep was drawn in Post 2, and will again be ridden by Brian Harding a two-time winner of the Blue Riband event ,who logged his 1,000 winner on Saturday last. Victory will be Harding’s first at the Santa Rosa Park racing plant since centralisation in 1994. According to ARC racing secretary Robin Jaisingh, there will be seven overseas riders coming for rides in the rich Derby.

Shane Ellis and Allen Maragh (Jamaica), Cornelio Velasquez (US), Jose Riviera (US), Leonel Ramos (Puerto Rico), Antonio Whitehall (Barbados) and ex-TT champion rider Wilmer Galviz, now based in Miami. Meanwhile, Bruceontheloose was drawn in Post 7 for the extended Diamond sprint.

Here is the draw for post positions for the 13 runner in the Derby with riders: 1. BANDWAGON, Brian Boodramsing; 2. Onetokeep, Brian Harding; 3. DIRECTOR DREAM, Richard Perez; 4. TASTE OF TEXAS, Wilmer Galviz; 5. D’COACHMAN, Antonio Whitehall; 6. BIG THING, Cornelio Velasquez; 7. Pistons and rings, Nobel Abrego; 8. ONE FORTHEROAD, Ricky Jadoo; 9. RAISE YOUR GLASS, Ronald Ali; 10. THE BIG SQUEEZE, Shane Ellis; 11. FREE PASSAGE, Leonel Ramos; 12. ZAHAWI, Jose Riviera; 13. NETTOYER, Allen Maragh.



Post positions for the nine runners in Diamond Stakes with riders: 1. IGNITION COIL, Brian Boodramsing; 2. EL BANDIDO DE ORO, Ricky Jadoo; 3. SIGNAL ALERT, Shane Ellis; 4. MONTEJO, Jose Riviera; 5. READBETWEENDLINES, Cornelio Velasquez; 6. SMART AMERICAN, Antonio Whitehall; 7. BRUCEONTHELOOSE, Nobel Abergo; 8. BOOGIE BLUES, Wilmer Galviz; 9. KING WHISTLER, Kerron Khelawan.



Gallops recorded yesterday: (Going :Good) - 400 METRES: BONNIE - 29.4 Pacing; COME RENE WITH ME - 29.4 Pacing; NO JUST CAUSE - 29.4 Pacing; PRADOS WELLS - 29.4 Pacing; QUICK CITY - 23.0 Good; STROKE OF LOVE - 29.4 Pacing.



600 METRES: ALWAYS A PRINCESS - 44.0 Pacing; AZTEC GOLD - 38.0;Good; BRUCEONTHELOOSE - 43.4 Pacing; GOLD BEAD - 38.2 Good; PEPPERMINT - 44.0 Pacing.



800 METRES: GONE FOR SIX, PISTONS AND RINGS - 59.4 Pacing; SAFRA TILAH - 54.1 Pacing.



1000 METRES: FREE PASSAGE, ONE FORTHEROAD - 1:00.4 Good; U CRAZY DIAMOND - 1:02.0 Good.