Santa Rosa Park will be the focus today, when the curtain falls on the Arima Race Club's 2013 season. The season will end with Republic Bank sponsoring the ten-race programme which begins at 11 am.The feature event is the $500,000 Republic Bank Gold Cup which will have a field of 13 going to post, with Strikes Not Spares, Wooden and Toro Rosso staying indoors. Emile Ramsammy will not be coming today and Prayven Badrie will ride Golden Dixieland in the Gold Cup.Punters will be out to see if unbeaten Jamaican-bred colt Bigman In Town can win his fifth start in a row and land the Horse of The Year 2013 title.The Baskaran Bassawh-owned colt was impressive in the T&T Derby. He carried 56.5 kilos and won impressively; and based on the form book no three-year-old should turn the table on the John O'Brien-trained colt. Last time out, Bigman In Town was made to work hard and held on to win the Caribbean Champion Stakes over 1,800 metres by a diminishing head from Headline News. Reports from the stable state that the colt was not well. He is better for the run and has been galloping well in preparation for this event. He will be difficult to beat with Wilmer Galviz in the saddle.
O'Brien's other entrant is Headline News. This colt has improved in the past four months. He continues to thrive, and with Brian Boodramsing astride could run big especially on first time lasix.
Derick Mosca has Gabby's Gold, which will be ridden by Nobel Abrego. This horse won the President Cup and has been trained for this event. Gabby's Gold has been galloping superbly and will go well once he does not go chasing down Signal Alert. However, you cannot allow Signal Alert an easy lead because he may never come back. That is the dilemna for Abrego.The other horse which must be respected is the Kenneth DeSilva Jr-trained Nominee. This horse has been improving and won the Champagne Stakes over 1,600 metres. However, my vote goes to Bigman In Town.The St Ann's Stakes over 1,350 metres looks like a romp for the Anthony Nunes-trained juvenile Soca Rhapsody. This horse will win and it will take a miracle to turn her over. The Glenn Mendez-trained Maranza, which has been second on her both starts will follow her home.
In the Republic Online St James Stakes over 1,350 metres, Momentum and Dark Treasure are set to battle to the line. Momentum is drawn in the dreaded stall one; while Dark Treasure, which was highly impressive though lugging in last time, will race from stall two. These two colts are certainly above average, but I expect Momentum to win.The battle between the two top riders Boodramsing and Wilmer Galviz could go down to the last event.Galviz leads by two wins. Boodramsing has seven rides and will be aboard King Whistler, Song Of Class, Chase The Dragon, Justmyluck, Momentum, Headline News and Peppermint. However, Galviz has a great chance being declared for five top horses in Goodwill Boy, Soca Rhapsody, Dark Treasure, Bigman In Town and The Tactician.The host of overseas riders will include Orlando Bocachica, who is based at Calder racecourse and Venezuelans Louis Ramos, Manuel Melean, and Jonathon Mancilla.
ARC BOXING DAY CARD
R1: 11 AM - REPUBLIC CORPORATE TISP 2 Y.O. & OVER HORSES RATED 100-70 - 1,350 Metres - $60,000
776 1 Gabby's Wonderboy R Stephen/L Keizer 46 No form
141 2 Goodwill Boy A Nunes/W Galviz 47 Big shout
211 3 Star Entertainer D Mosca/M Melean 54.5 Can win this
772 4 King Whistler J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 51 Well weighted
341 5 Unquestionable S Khan/N Flavenney 49 Repeat
324 6 Youaresobad G Villiers/O Bocachica 57 Can surprise
621 7 El Bandido De Oro H Chadee/J Stephen 53.5 Must go close
R2: 11.38PM - REPUBLIC MONEY MARKET FUND 2 Y.O. & OVER HORSES RATED 45-0 -1,100 Metres(TURF) - $33,000
466 1 Bonnie H Chadee/K Khelawan 57 Speedy
479 2 Cover You Donkey M Carew Jnr/C Malcolm 56.5 Big shout
700 3 Atlantica T Thomas/R Jadoo 56 Lost way
709 4 Lady Marisa D Mosca/S Rodrigo 52.5 Can surprise
816 5 Something Black R Dube/P Badrie 55.5 One to catch
049 6 Who Is The Problem H Singh/C Malcolm 52.5 Chance
322 7 Messi C Roberts/D Khelawan 57 In good form
035 8 Satya Treasure T Thomas/D Butcher 54.5 Can go close
111 9 Queen Esther J Mosca/N Flavenney 56.5 One to beat
779 10 Northern Hills J Rampersad/Y Cristalino 57 Don't trust
044 11 Schyler's Gold R Dube/E Ramsammy 56.5 Good sort
R3: 12.18PM -REPUBLIC TELABANKER W.I.BRED 3 Y.O. AND OVER MAIDENS -1,100 Metres(TURF) - $44,000
090 1 Golden Mistress M Carew Jnr/K Balgobin 53 No form
365 2 Playthatfunkymusic W Debysingh/P Badrie 52 Chance
9-- 3 Imagine W Debysingh/N Samaroo 55 Must improve
746 4 Monica Do Do J Mosca/R Hasranah 47 In and out
574 5 Bold Destiny M Carew Jnr/E Ramsammy 52 Big shout
2-- 6 Drogbar L Latchmansingh/N Flavenney 57 Good sort
--- 7 Danceinthepark H Singh/C Malcolm 55 Debut
4-- 8 Mawiyya L Alexis/R Thomas 55 Running on
725 9 Release D Beast J Rampersad/L Ramos 55 Chance
508 10 Bas Choice D Mosca/S Rodrigo 55.5 In tough
777 11 Advantage Them K De Freitas/L Keizer 47 Shown little
88- 12 Strike Gold L Alexis/S Jadoo 57 Can surprise
9-- 13 Western Colours J Leotaud/D Khelawan 57 Must improve
000 14 Sapphire J Rampersad/L Lopez 47 Nothing yet
983 15 Camelot T Thomas/E Ramsammy 53 Will go close
255 16 Chelsi Magic C Roberts/K Jadoo 52 Speedy
358 17 My Giselle J Mosca/K Khelawan 49.5 Outsider
R4: 12.53PM - REPUBLIC MORTGAGES ST ANN'S STAKES(GR 1R F) - W.I.BRED 2 Y.O. FILLIES -1,350 Metres - $150,000
53- 1 Gold Strike S Khan/L Ramos 55 Outside shot
24- 2 Princess Reiko G Emmanuel/P Badrie 55 Respected
--- 3 Faith N' Fortune R Dube/R Hasranah 55 Newcomer
1-- 4 Soca Rhapsody A Nunes/W Galviz 55 The winner
22- 5 Maranza G Mendez/R Jadoo 55 Good sort
R5: 1.33PM -REPUBLIC EQUITY FUND 2 Y.O. & OVER HORSES RATED 30-0- 1,100 Metres (TURF) - $31,000
748 1 Insidious C Roberts/N Patrick 50 Shown little
308 2 Black Pepper C Roberts/L Lopez 57 Speedy
245 3 Seal The Deal R Stephen/L Keizer 57 Running on
670 4 Always Ready H Chadee/S Jadoo 54 Outsider
267 5 Dazzling Diamond L Alexis/R Jadoo 57 Speedy
078 6 Waka Waka W Debysingh/N Samaroo 57 Outside shot
246 7 Vijayanti F De Freitas/Y Cristalino 55 Big shout
245 8 Traditional Song R Stephen/O Bocachica 55 Good sort
866 9 Cat Whiskers S Khan/N Flavenney 57 Shown little
800 10 Big Red R Dube/S Samuel 54.5 Nothing yet
521 11 Song Of Class H Gobin/B Boodramsing 55 One to beat
007 12 Third Time Lucky R Dube/Y Cristalino 52 In tough
849 13 Danzig's Day R Maharaj/R Ali 55 In and out
009 14 Star Dreamer H Chadee/J Stephen 55 Nothing yet
488 15 Sweet Parang Music J Rampersad/R Hasranah 50.5 Chance
829 16 Stroke Of Love L Alexis/D Gopie 54.5 In and out
898 17 Bananachips W Debysingh/P Badrie 55 Scratched
R6: 2.11PM - REPUBLIC VISA TRAVEL MONEY 2 Y.O. & OVER HORSES RATED 70-55 -1,300 Metres - $43,000
7-- 1 Swapped D Mosca/M Melean 53.5 Improving
554 2 Caro's Legacy K De Silva Jr/D Khelawan 54.5 Chance
631 3 Chase The Dragon J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 56 Winner
660 4 Touch D Road R Maharaj/R Ali 57 Scratched
512 5 Fire Light D Mosca/P Badrie 56 Place chance
836 6 Officer Ike R Stephen/O Bocachica 57 Needs shorter
211 7 Gold Rush J O'Brien/E Ramsammy 56 Hattrick Seeker
113 8 Bandwagon T Thomas/R Thomas 52.5 Outside shot
614 9 King Of Siberia E Miller/N Abrego 54.5 Needs shorter
R7: 2.51PM -REPUBLIC MAKE IT HAPPEN LOAN 2 Y.O. & OVER HORSES RATED 40-0 -1,350 Metres - $33,000
766 1 Little Otis T Thomas/P Badrie 53.5 Going wrong way
158 2 Red-Hot Wheels L Latchmansingh/K Razack 53 Running on
084 3 Precious Diamond L Alexis/D Khelawan 56 Speedy
040 4 A Great Moment H Chadee/J Stephen 57 No form
549 5 Martha R Bartolo/D Gopie 57 Outside shot
844 6 Super Sonic T Thomas/D Butcher 55.5 Must go close
658 7 Added Time B Persad/K Razack 53.6 Outside shot
806 8 Consideritdone G Villiers/Y Cristalino 56 Can surprise
758 9 Captive Witness J William-Samaroo/J Mancilla 56 Chance
883 10 Best Defence K De Freitas/S Rodrigo 56 Will go close
607 11 Lady Felisha R Dube/Y Cristalino 57 Don't trust
004 12 Enigmatic C Roberts/L Lopez 57 Good sort
552 13 On My Own R Dube/K Khelawan 54.5 Big chance
090 14 Star Diamond F De Freitas/S Samuel 54.5 In and out
331 15 Princess Jo Ann J Mosca/N Flavenney 54.5 Repeat
222 16 Justmyluck T Thomas/B Boodramsing 54.5 One to beat
566 17 Nature's Reality R Stephen/L Ramos 54.5 Needs further
R8: 3.30PM -REPUBLIC ONLINE ST JAMES STAKES(GR1 R C&G) - W.I.BRED 2 Y.O. COLTS AND GELDINGS -1,350 Metres - $150,000
1-- 1 Momentum J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 55 One to beat
1-- 2 Dark Treasure G Mendez/W Galviz 55 Impressive
3-- 3 Tonithetiger D Mosca/M Melean 55 Place chance
15- 4 Country Boy S Ferreira/E Ramsammy 55 Must go close
36- 5 All For The Haul H Chadee/R Jadoo 55 Can surprise
2-- 6 Justcallmebas J O'Brien/N Abrego 55 Good sort
4-- 7 Heroes N Legends D Mosca/L Ramos 55 Scratched
12- 8 Eye See You H Chadee/J Stephen 55 Will be around
4-- 9 Luvdatcat R Dube/D Khelawan 55 Must improve
R9: 4.15PM -REPUBLIC BANK GOLD CUP (GR1) - W.I. BRED 3 Y.O. & OVER AND IMPORTED 2 Y.0. & OVER - 2,000 Metres - $500,000
113 1 Galveston D Mosca/O Bocachica 56 In tough
126 2 Slewjero D Mosca/M Melean 53 Up in class
352 3 Buffalo Soldier D Mosca/P Badrie 56 In tough
228 4 Golden Dixieland T Thomas/E Ramsammy 56 Running on
346 5 Free Passage D Mosca/K Balgobin 53 Running on
4-- 6 Allied J William-Samaroo/J Mancilla 53 Don't trust
342 7 Nominee K De Silva Jr/D Khelawan 56 Big shout
644 8 Strikes Not Spares T Thomas/D Butcher 56 Scratched
111 9 Bigman In Town J O'Brien/W Galviz 50 One to beat
122 10 Signal Alert G Mendez/R Jadoo 56 The speed
213 11 Red Lace S Khan/N Flavenney 54 In tough
412 12 Headline News J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 48 Respected
441 13 Lang Amour D Ojar/J Stephen 56 Up in class
112 14 Woden D Mosca/L Ramos 53 Scratched
341 15 Gabby's Gold D Mosca/N Abrego 56 Ready to win
061 16 Toro Rosso J William-Samaroo/N Patrick 56 Scratched
R10: 5 PM: REPUBLIC TISP 2 Y.O. & OVER HORSES RATED 55-40 - 1,150 Metres - $37,400
567 1 Actin Time C Roberts/N Flavenney 55 Outsider
980 2 First Encounter J Mosca/K Razack 55 No form
250 3 Cafe's Marque E Miller/N Abrego 57 In tough
446 4 The Tactician A Nunes/W Galviz 53.5 Can surprise
931 5 Direct Injection H Gobin/K Balgobin 56.5 Repeat
004 6 Doctor Of Merit M Carew Jnr/R Ali 53.5 Lost way
699 7 She's A Cutie H Chadee/J Stephen 55 Good sort
580 8 Peppermint J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 54.5 Can surprise
160 9 Salome D Bennett/R Jadoo 52.5 Speedy
8D0 10 Brash N Willing M Carew Jnr/K Balgobin 54.5 Lost form
715 11 Fleet Admiral G Mendez/K Khelawan 55.5 Running on
144 12 Zorro J Mosca/S Samuel 54.5 In and out
212 13 Traditional Girl J O'Brien/D Khelawan 57 Ready
662 14 Princess Warrior D Mosca/M Melean 55.5 Respected
931 15 Red Magic R Stephen/Y Cristalino 52.5 Can surprise
800 16 Big Daddy L Alexis/N Samaroo 53.5 Scratched
541 17 Cherie D'amour J O'Brien/C Malcolm 52.5 Chance
401 18 Hesuntouchabull J Mosca/R Thomas 53 Repeat
21- 19 Bazinga G Mendez/S Jadoo 57 Must go close
Selections
Dancing Brave
StarBet: R10 (Tradition Girl)
R1: YouaresoBad, King Whistler, Unquestionable, Goodwill Boy
R2: Messi, Queen Esther, Schylers Gold, Cover you Donkey
R3: Bold Destiny, Western Colours, Release D Beast, Drogbar
R4: Soca Rhapsody, Maranza, Gold Strike, Princess Reiko
R5: Stroke of Love, Waka Waka, Black Pepper, Big Red
R6: Officer Ike, Chase the Dragon, Bandwagon, Touch D Road
R7: Captive Witness, Super Sonic, On My Own, A Great Moment
R8: Dark Treasure, Momentum, Country Boy, Heroes N Legends
R9: Signal Alert, Headline News, BigMan in Town, Woden
R10: Tradition Girl, Direct Injection, Big Daddy, Bazinga
The Mechanic
StarBet: R9 (Signal Alert)
R1: Star Entertainer, El Bandido de Oro , King Whistler , Goodwill Boy
R2: Messi, Queen Esther , Bonnie,Satya Treasure
R3: Bold Destiny, Drogbar, Mawiyya, PLaythatfunkymusic,Strike Gold
R4: Maranza, Soca Rhapsody, Gold Strike , Princess Reiko
R5: Star Dreamer, Danzig's Day, Vijayanti, Dazzling Diamond , Big Red
R6: Chase the Dragon, Gold Rush , Firelight, Swapped
R7: Just My Luck, On My Own, Princess Joann, Super Sonic,
R8: Dark Treasure , Momentum, Country Boy , Eye See You
R9: Signal Alert( Nap Selection) , Gabby's Gold , Headline News, Galveston
R10: Bazinga, Direct Injection, Zorro, Princess Warrior
The Watcher
StarBet: R10 (Peppermint)
R1: Star Entertainer, King Whistler, Unquestionable, El Bandido del Oro
R2: Satya Treasure, Queen Ester, Lady Marisa, Atlantica
R3: Playthatfunkymusic, Bold Destiny, Mawiyya, Drogbar, Release D Beast
R4: Soca Rhapsody, Maranza, Princess Reiko
R5: Song of Class, Black Pepper, Vijayanti, Cat Whiskers, Star Dreamer
R6: Swapped, King of Siberia, Officer Ike, Gold Rush
R7: Captive Witness, On My Own, Consideritdone, Precious Diamond, Enigmatic.
R8: Momentum, Dark Treasure, Heroes N Legends, Country Boy
R9: Headline News, Bigman in Town, Nominee, Gabby's Gold, Slewjero
R10: Peppermint, First Encounter, Bazinga, Tradition Girl, Cafe's Marquee.
Eddie A
StarBet: R10 (Direct Injection)
R1: Youaresobad, El Bandido De Oro, Star Entertainer.
R2: Satya Treasure, Queen Esther, Messi.
R3: Release D Beast, Bold Destiny, Western Colours, Drogbar.
R4: Soca Rhapsody, Maranza.
R5: Dazzling Diamond, Bananachips, Song Of Class, Seal The Deal.
R6: Chase The Dragon, Fire Light, Officer Ike.
R7: Captive Witness, Enigmatic, Justmyluck, Lady Felisha.
R8: Momentum, Dark Treasure, Eye See You.
R9: Bigman In Town, Gabby's Gold, Headline News, Galveston.
R10: Direct Injection, Tradition Girl, Princess Warrior, Zorro.
Kelvin 'N'
StarBet: R6 (Chase The Dragon)
R1: King Whistler, Goodwill Boy, El Bandido De Oro
R2: Cover You Donkey, Bonnie, Messi, Schyler's Gold, Queen Esther (T)
R3: Bold Destiny, Release D Beast, Drogbar, Camelot, Chelsi Magic (T)
R4: Soca Rhasody, Maranza, Princess Reijko
R5: Song Of Class, Danzig's Day, Blacjk Pepper, Dazzling Diamond
R6: Chase The Dragon, Gold Rush, Firelight
R7: Just My Luck, Super Sonic, Nature's Reality, Princess Joann, A Great Moment
R8: Momentum, Dark Treasure, Eye See You, Country Boy
R9: Bigman In Town, Headline News, Gabby's Gold, Nominee, Signal Alert
R10: Peppermint, Fleet Admiral, Zorro, Bazinga, Cherie Amour