All roads will lead to Santa Rosa Park, Arima today, when Neal and Massy Day At The Races will takes centre stage as the nation celebrates the 51st anniversary of our Independence.A large holiday crowd is expected to be in attendance for the bumper 10-race programme that will have two major events the Neal & Massy Oak over 1800 metres on the turf track and the Bernard Dulal-Whiteway Independence Cup on the main track over the same distance.The card will see horses bred in Jamaica, Barbados competing in the Oaks while in the Independence Cup horse from Barbados, Jamaica, the United States and the United Kingdom will line-up for equine supremacy.
However, this could be the beginning of a great season for veteran owner Baskaran Bassawh, who has brought in Perfect Day and Derby favourite Bigman In Town to rule racing in T&T.Bassawh invigorated after watching his colt Bigman In Town win impressively on his debut last week by 21 lengths, should have no worries as his filly Perfect Day should win doing handspring in the co-feature. The battle is really for second money. This will be interesting as Sweet Genius and Doctor of Merit should have a fight for the runner-up slot.For the first time in many years champion trainer John O'Brien who has saddled the most winners in the feature Bernard Dulal-Whiteway Memorial Independence Cup, will have no participants. However, the races is an open one with any of seven of the entered horses possessing the credentials to win.
In what is an open Independence Cup, I stick my neck out for Nominee to surprise all and take the $120,000 first prize cheque. This horse continues to improve and could be spot on for this event. Last year's winner Just Call Me Roger is prepared by master trainer Glenn Mendez and must be respected. Free Passage from the powerful Derick Mosca Stable will run a big race and will be closing fast at the end.Emile Ramsammy, is making a return home from his base at Woodbine in Canada. He will ride Buffalo Soldier for owner Merlin Samlalsingh in the Independence Cup and will be tumbling down at the end.Post-time for the first event today is 11.30 am.
NEAL & MASSY DAY CARD
R1: 11.30AM - BALLANTINE'S - 3 YO & OVER HORSES RATED 60 - 45 - 1,200M - $40,500
423 1 Burst Of Energy D Mosca/N Abrego 57 Outside shot
491 2 Central Square J O'Brien/D Khelawan 57 Will go close
322 3 Painted Buddha I Hay/A Findley 55 In tough
175 4 The Tactician A Nunes/W Galviz 56.5 Respected
408 5 Nawab Dr Suratsing/S Samuel 54.5 Must surprise
-57 6 Ann's Star J Mosca/L Lopez 50 Scratched
145 7 Hyat Princess J O'Brien/B Boodramsing8 55 One to catch
866 8 Frankenstein R Stephen/R Hernandez 55.5 Needs further
R2: 12.12PM - RICOH - 3 YO & OVER HORSES RATED 40-0 - 1,350M- $32,000
715 1 Strategic Silence C Roberts/N Abrego 54 Respected
895 2 Seal The Deal R Stephen/R Hernandez 55.5 Running on
734 3 Prado's Princess H Gobin/R Ali 57 Can surprise
4D4 4 Justmyluck T Thomas/D Butcher 55.5 In and out
927 5 Little Otis M Maharaj/P Badrie 53.5 Must go close
631 6 Unbridled Way L Alexis/D Khelawan 57 Repeat
262 7 Really Classy B Persad/R Jadoo 57 Chance
060 8 Star Diamond F De Freitas/N Flavenney 56 No form
717 9 On My Own J Rampersad/A Findley 57 In and out
003 10 Lady Of Class H Gobin/N Vargas 56 Ready
487 11 Lady Felisha J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 57 Can take this
D53 12 Traditonal Song R Stephen/B Pahal 54 Outside shot
980 13 Always Ready H Chadee/J Stephen 53 Nothing yet
005 14 Black Pepper C Roberts/D Gopie 56 Speedy
461 15 Measured Response S Khan/S Samuel 54 Will be around
R3: 12.50PM - NISSAN - 3 YO & OVER HORSES RATED 100 - 70 - 1,300M - $60,000
354 1 Intact E Miller/N Patrick 57 Respected
414 2 One Fortheroad D Mosca/E Ramsammy 55.5 Chance
623 3 King Whistler J O'Brien/W Galviz 57 Will be around
342 4 Slippery Sam D Mosca/A Guerere 55 In tough
317 5 Wild Shuffle T Thomas/R Thomas 51 Running on
122 6 Unquestionable S Khan/P Badrie 51 Well weighted
205 7 Diplomatic Cat J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 50.5 Can surprise
R4: 1.30PM - UNITED INSURANCE - WI-BRED 3 Y.O. & OVER RATED 30 - 0 - 1,100M - $30,000
622 1 Fire N' Faith J Rampersad/K Khelawan 57 One to beat
626 2 The Conqueror M Maharaj/B Pahal 56 Outside shot
533 3 Red-Hot Wheels C Roberts/D Gopie 50.5 Chance
784 4 Rosie Dream E Miller/N Patrick 55 Shown little
486 5 Renewed Dream J Rampersad/R Hernandez 52 No form
600 6 Insidious C Roberts/P Badrie 54 Disappointing
215 7 Song Of Class H Gobin/R Ali 53 Scratched
445 8 Sweet Parang Music J Rampersad/R Hasranah 52.5 Chance
069 9 Unguarded Moment J Mosca/N Abrego 54.5 No form
569 10 Sparkling Silver E Miller/R Jadoo 51 Disappointment
650 11 Born To Run W Debysingh/C Malcolm 57 Outside shot
557 12 Princess Jo Ann J Mosca/J Mancilla 57 Running on
635 13 Vijayanti F De Freitas/Y Cristalino 55 Respected
R5: 2.10PM - GILLETTE - 3 YO & OVER HORSES RATED 45 -0 -1,100M (Turf) - $33,000
458 1 Enigmatic C Roberts/R Hernandez 55.5 Needs further
099 2 Satya Treasure T Thomas/E Ramsammy 57 Speedy
347 3 Cover You Donkey M Carew Jnr/K Khelawan 56.5 Big shout
554 4 Something Black J Lyder/S Samuel 55.5 Scratched
500 5 Messi C Roberts/N Flavenney 57 In tough
377 6 Caipirinha M Glasgow/R Hasranah 57 Must improve
758 7 Lady Sage J Rampersad/Y Cristalino 56.5 Speedy
391 8 Zipitup W Debysingh/P Badrie 55.5 One to beat
222 9 Lady Marisa D Mosca/N Abrego 56.5 Can go close
607 10 Spectacular Return J Rampersad/N Patrick 55.5 Scratched
475 11 Bold Destiny M Carew Jnr/W Galviz 55.5 Outsider
400 12 Nothing Left M Maharaj/B Pahal 54.5 Speedy
778 13 Star Dreamer H Chadee/J Stephen 54.5 In tough
R6: 2.50PM - CATERPILLAR - WI BRED - 3 YO & OVER MAIDENS - 1,350M - $43,000
322 1 Skyzim J Lyder/N Flavenney 52.5 Must go close
534 2 Zorro J Mosca/J Mancilla 52.5 Will go close
632 3 Saynomore J W Samaroo/R Thomas 54.5 Chance
307 4 Dream Marshall H Chadee/J Stephen 55 In tough
-0D 5 Upset D Dance Dr R Shim/D Gopie 56.5 Must improve
--6 6 Playthatfunkymusic W Debysingh/A Findley 56.5 Outside shot
947 7 Pure Happiness D Bennett/R Jadoo 52.5 Shown little
236 8 Tradition Girl J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 57 Can surprise
758 9 Advantage Them K De Freitas/Y Cristalino 47.5 No form
--3 10 Panorama Gal I Hay/R Ali 57 Can go close
856 11 Super Easy B Persad/R Hasranah 51.5 Of little account
502 12 Big Profit S Khan/D Butcher 52.5 Ready
000 13 That's Me MrPepe C Roberts/L Seecharan 54.5 Nothing
-53 14 My Giselle J Mosca/N Patrick 54.5 Improving
R7: 3.30PM - BERNARD DULAL-WHITEWAY MEMORIAL INDEPENDENCE CUP (GRADE I) - 3 YO & UP -1,800 Metres (TURF)- $200,000
--- 1 Modimo E Miller/R Jadoo 56 Expected to go well
711 2 Red Lace S Khan/S Samuel 54 Hattrick seeker
154 3 Key Chain T Thomas/D Butcher 49 Can surprise
122 4 Golden Dixieland (MO) T Thomas/R Thomas 56 Main only
150 5 Toro Rosso J W Samaroo/R Thomas 56 Outsider
113 6 Away Johannesburg Dr R Shim/J Arneaud 56 In good form
683 7 Lang Amour D Ojar/J Stephen 56 Ran on well
329 8 Just Call Me Roger G Mendez/W Galviz 56 Defending champion
113 9 Galveston (MO) D Mosca/R Jadoo 51 Main only
516 10 Joezel G Mendez/B Boodramsing 56 Outside shot
420 11 Sacred Trust J W Samaroo/N Patrick 54 Can surprise
286 12 Secret American C Prime/R Ali 56 Long shot
734 13 Nominee K De Silva Jr/N Abrego 56 Must go close
310 14 Free Passage D Mosca/P Badrie 53 Respected
155 15 Buffalo Soldier D Mosca/E Ramsammy 56 Running on
R8: 4.10PM - HI LO SMART SHOPPER - 3 Y.O. & OVER HORSES RATED 70-55 - 1,350M - $43,000
675 1 Bears And Bulls L Alexis/R Hernandez 52.5 No form
451 2 Mambo Cat E Miller/K Khelawan 54.5 Repeat
524 3 Ten Power K De Freitas/D Khelawan 54 Speedy
375 4 Nakita C Roberts/J Stephen 54.5 Can surprise
997 5 Stormy Frontier H Gobin/R Jadoo 54.5 Nothing
085 6 No Just Cause C Roberts/D Gopie 54.5 Needs further
242 7 Becquerel J Lyder/D Butcher 57 In good form
708 8 Odin J Mosca/J Mancilla 54.5 Can surprise
421 9 Goodwill Boy A Nunes/W Galviz 56 One to beat
436 10 Sam's Hero C Prime/N Flavenney 57 Can take this
423 11 First Encounter D Mosca/E Ramsammy 52.5 Chance
--- 12 Nekitta E Miller/B Boodramsing 53.5 Barbadian threat
R9: 5PM - NEAL & MASSY OAKS STAKES - NOMINATED WI-BRED 3 YO FILLIES -1,800M - $200,000
013 1 Diamond Queen E Miller/N Patrick 55 In tough
431 2 Spotted Eagle G Emmauel/D Butcher 55 Can place
513 3 Doctor Of Merit D Mosca/E Ramsammy 55 Can get a place
167 4 Settle D Score S Khan/R Ali 55 Outside shot
609 5 Soca Train G Mendez/C Malcolm 55 Shown little
262 6 Readyforstanley S Khan/J Mancilla 55 In tough
345 7 Salome D Bennett/A Guerere 55 Must do better
D43 8 Hannah's Champion J Lyder/K Khelawan 55 Wrong race
582 9 Heidi's Tzippi G Mendez/D Khelawan 55 Still a maiden
--1 10 Perfect Day G Subratie/W Galviz 55 Easy Winner
379 11 Galadriel S Ferreira/S Samuel 55 Can surprise
624 12 Sweet Genius D Mosca/P Badrie 55 Running on
531 13 Fidelis D Bennett/R Jadoo 55 Will be around
954 14 All Is Yours J Rampersad/R Hasranah 55 Nothing yet
R10: 5.30PM- ILLUMINAT - 3 YO & OVER HORSES RATED 55 - 40 - 1,750 M - $36,400
172 1 Convoy D Bennett/B Boodramsing 55 Running on
834 2 Edmundo L Alexis/R Hernandez 54.5 Can go close
234 3 Oasis J Rampersad/D Gopie 57 Chance
505 4 Hesuntouchabull J Mosca/A Findley 52.5 No form
584 5 Sweetie Jan H Gobin/R Ali 53 In and out
203 6 Believe It Or Not M Maharaj/P Badrie 57 Respected
100 7 Consideritdone C Prime/N Flavenney 54 No here
166 8 Honour Roll D Mosca/E Ramsammy 56.5 Outside shot
996 9 Nandi L Alexis/J Stephen 53 Don't bet
-12 10 Headline News J O'Brien/N Abrego 56.5 One to beat
661 11 Thisisit T Thomas/D Butcher 54 Ready
443 12 Nature's Reality R Stephen/B Pahal 50 Running on
441 13 Red Howler C Roberts/D Khelawan 54.5 Chance
130 14 Sam's Selection S Ferreira/S Samuel 54 In Tough
Guardian Selections
Kelvin 'N'
Star-Bet: R2 - #11 - Lady Felisha
R1: Central Square, Hyatt Princess, The Tactician
R2: Lady Felisha, Little Otis, Black Pepper, Traditional Song
R3: King Whistler, Slippery Sam, Wild Shuffle
R4: Fire N Faith, Vijayanti, Princess Joann, Conqueror, Rosie Dream
R5: Lady Marisa, Enigmatic, Zipitup, Satya Treasure, Nothing Left
R6: Zorro, Big Profit, Skyzim, Saynomore, Tradition Girl
R7: Nominee, Free Passage, Just Call Me Roger, Buffalo Soldier (T)
R7: Galveston, Golden Dixieland, Free Pasage, Buffalo Soldier (M)
R8: Goodwill Boy Sam's Hero, Nakita, Becquerel
R9: Perfect Day, Doctor of Merit, Sweet Genius, Fidelis,
R10: Headline News, Believe It Or Not, Convoy, Red Howler, Sweetie Jan
Eddie A
Best bet: R3- #3 - King Whistler
R1: Central Square, The Tactician, Burst Of Energy
R2: Just My Luck, Unbridled Way, Prado's Princess, Lady Of Class
R3: King Whistler, Intact, Slippery Sam
R4: Song Of Class, Fire N' Faith, Vijayanti, Princess Jo Ann
R5: Lady Marisa, Satya Treasure, Zipitup
R6: Skyzim, Zorro, Tradition Girl, Dream Marshall
R7: Golden Dixieland, Nominee, Galveston, Just Call Me Roger
R8: Golden Boy, Becquerel, Mambo Cat, Ten Powers
R9: Perfect Day, Sweet Genius, Fidelis
R10: Believe It Or Not, Convoy, Red Howler, Headline News
Dancing Brave
Best bet: R10 - #13 - Red Howler
R1: Hyat Princess, Central Square, Painted Budda, Nawab,
R2: Little Otis, On My Own, Seal the Deal, Really Classy, Black Pepper
R3: One for the Road, Diplomatic Cat, Intact, King Whistler,
R4: The Conqueror, Red Hot Wheels, Born to Run, Rosie Dream,
R5: Bold Destiny, Messi, Satya Treasure, Something Black,
R6: Saynomore, Zorro, Skyzim, Pure Happiness, Big Profit
R7: Nominee, Golden Dixeland, Sacred Trust, Just Call Me Roger,
R8: Goodwill Boy, Odin, Nakita, Sams Hero, First Encounter
R9: Sweet Genius, Doctor of Merit, Perfect Day, Spotted Eagle,
R10: Red Howler, Headline News, Sweetie Jan, Edmundo, Oasis
The Mechanic
Best bet: R10 - #2 - Edmundo
R1: Hyat Princess, Burst of Energy, Central Square, Painted Buddha
R2: Really Classy, Unbridled Way, Prado's Princess, Little Otis, Seal the Deal
R3: Onefortheroad,King Whistler, Slippery Sam, Intact
R4: Fire N Faith, Red Hot Wheels, Vijayanti, Born to Run
R5: Bold Destiny, Lady Marisa, Zipitup, Enigmatic
R6: Skyzim, Big Profit, Tradition Girl, Saynomore, Pure Happiness
R7: Nominee, Just Call Me Roger, Sacred Trust, Galveston
R8: Becquerel, Goodwill Boy, Mambo Cat, Sam's Hero, First Encounter
R9: Perfect Day, Sweet Genius, Doctor of Merit, Fidelis
R10: Edmundo, Convoy, Believe it or Not , Headline News, This is it
The Watcher
Best bet R6- #3 - Saynomore
R1: The Tactician, Hyat Princess, Burst Of Energy, Painted Buddha
R2: Lady Felisha, Little Otis, Measured Response, Prado's Princess, Just My Luck
R3: Diplomatic Cat, King Whistler, Unquestionable, Wild Shuffle
R4: Rosie Dream, Fire N' Faith, Red-Hot Wheels, Unguarded Moment, Sweet Parang Music
R5: Satya Treasure, Caipirinha, Lady Marisa, Zipitup
R6: Saynomore, Tradition Girl, Zorro, Big Profit, Dream Marshall
R7: Nominee, Key Chain, Sacred Trust, Free Passage (T)
R7: Free Passage, Buffalo Soldier, Red Lace, Golden Dixieland (M)
R8: Goodwill Boy, Mambo Cat, Becquerel, Ten Powers, Nakita
R9: Perfect Day, Sweet Genius, Spotted Eagle, Settle D Score
R10: Headline News, Convoy, Thisisit, Red Howler, Hesuntouchabull