John O'Brien's colt Momentum is favoured to win the first Classic of the local racing Triple Crown–the NLCB Easter Guineas–over 1,800 metres on the main track at Santa Rosa Park in Arima, today.
Champion trainer O'Brien has won this race on six occasions in the past 16 years and it will take a very good performance by one of his rivals to keep the unbeaten Momentum from running away with the top prize.
Earlier in the year, Momentum beat the older horses and last time out in the Flamingo Stakes, he could not be more impressive, winning by 7 1/2 lengths from stablemate High Octane with another stable horse Justcallmebas back in third.
The question mark than hangs over Momentum is whether or not he can get around the two turns.
O'Brien is a shrewd trainer and will never put his colt's unbeaten record on the line without knowing this horse has the ability. In my opinion Momentum is a cut above our local three-year-olds and it is only Spitfire from the Glenn Mendez barn which may offer opposition.
Spitfire won his maiden in Caymanas by 18 lengths and he is in the hands of a good trainer but on this occasion Momentum should have the upper hand.
It could be close for the second money between Spitfire, High Octane and Dark Treasure.
In the co-feature, the Champagne Stakes over 1,600m on the turf, last year's Derby winner Bigman In Town is the one to beat.
Bigman is in receipt of three kilos from Gold Cup winner Headline News and this should swing the pendulum in his favour.
Patrick Husbands has been booked to partner this horse. Headline News has won last three starts since being treated with Lasix and can beat anything. He will be ridden by Nobel Abrego. Sacred Trust and Kidz Ro should battle for the minor end of the purse.
Post time for the first event of the 11-race programme is 11 am.
NLCB DAY 15 CARD
R1: 11AM - PLAY WHE MAKE YOUR MARK TODAY (DIV 1) - 3 YO & OVER HORSES RATED 40-0 - 1,100M (TURF) - $32,000
956 1 Wise Decision R Stephen/K Khelawan 54.5 Chance
000 2 Team Connection C Roberts/C Malcolm 57 No form
381 3 Who I s The Problem H Singh/N Flavenney 57 Can take this
660 4 Riches Abound C Roberts/R Hernandez 57 Forget
969 5 Something Black R A Dube/D Gopie 54.5 Speedy
867 6 Skyzim J Lyder/J Millien 56 In tough
557 7 Cover You Donkey M Carew Jnr/S Ellis 57 Big shout
371 8 Spectacular Return R A Dube/R Ali 54.5 Can surprise
908 9 Salome J Mosca/S Samuel 54.5 Respected
865 10 Imagine(TO) W Debysingh/P Badrie 57 Outside shot
189 11 All Is Yours R A Dube/N Abrego 56.5 Don't trust
R2: 11.39AM - PLAY WHE MAKE YOUR MARK TODAY (DIV2) -3 YO & OVER HORSES RATED 40-0 - 1,100M (TURF) - $32,000
438 1 Seal The Deal R Stephen/J Reyes 57 Running on
436 2 Casino Host L Alexis/N Abrego 53 Chance
231 3 Unguarded Moment J Mosca/K Razack 50 Repeat
081 4 Princess Jo Ann J Mosca/J Stephen 57 Will go close
807 5 Best Defence K De Freitas/R Jadoo 55 In and out
005 6 Dazzling Diamond L Alexis/D Butcher 53 No form
009 7 Really Classy B Persad/D Boodram 56 Forget
064 8 Precious Diamond L Alexis/R Hernandez 53.5 Can surprise
506 9 Eyes Of The Wolf R Stephen/R Angnoo 48 Outsider
522 10 Justmyluck T Thomas/D Butcher 55 Will go close
747 11 Fire N' Faith J Rampersad/S Rodrigo 55 Needs further
400 12 Added Time B Persad/R Hasranah 54.5 Chance
R3:12.18PM - WINNERS ALWAYS PLAY LOTTO - 3 YO & OVER HORSES RATED 45-0 - 1,350M - $33,000
700 1 Flight On Time J Rampersad/L Keizer 57 Outside shot
008 2 Iconic H Gobin/P Badrie 56.5 No form
000 3 Fidelis J Mosca/N Abrego 55.5 Will go close
474 4 Peppermint J O'Brien/E Ramsammy 56.5 Ready
061 5 Chelsi Magic C Roberts/K Khelawan 55.5 Repeat
403 6 Be Precise C Roberts/J Stephen 57 Chance
347 7 Lady Sage A Gonzalez/J Reyes 55.5 Speedy
515 8 Asia C Roberts/D Butcher 56.5 Will go close
544 9 The Tactician H Gobin/S Ellis 57 Good shout
211 10 A Great Moment H Chadee/R Jadoo 57 One to beat
872 11 Princess Warrior D Mosca/B Pahal 57 Chance
166 12 Captive Witness J W Samaroo/S Samuel 57 Outside chance
607 13 Esquire Dr J Suratsing/S Chadee 57 Shot
202 14 Super Sonic T Thomas/S Rodrigo 55 Place chance
R4:12.55PM - CASH POT BUS DE POT EVERY DAY - 3 YO & OVER HORSES RATED 100-80 - 1,200M - $60,000
141 1 Star Entertainer D Mosca/N Abrego 57 In great form
215 2 Thisonesforron J O'Brien/R Ali 49.5 In tough
126 3 El Bandido De Oro H Chadee/A Whitehall 54 Speedy
-11 4 Coroneo J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 52 The winner
375 5 Smart American H Chadee/S Ellis 52 Shown speed
124 6 King Whistler T Thomas/P Badrie 51.5 Place chance
324 7 Intact J Mosca/N Patrick 52 Can surprise
R5:1.34PM - SCRATCH MATCH AND WIN - 3 YO & OVER HORSES RATED 80-50 - 1,750M- $48,500
358 1 It Is Alleged R Stephen/K Khelawan 51 Outside shot
662 2 Magic Rust Seal B Persad/J Stephen 53 Improving
025 3 Lang Amour D Ojar/D Butcher 55.5 Running on
440 4 Slewjero H Chadee/S Ellis 56.5 Disappointing
215 5 Bergeron Rodeo S Khan/D Gopie 57 Waiting out
313 6 Gold Rush J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 53.5 Chance
763 7 Pot Of Gold J O'Brien/E Ramsammy 55 Good sort
518 8 Prince Zeshan H Chadee/A Whitehall 54 Will go close
752 9 One Fortheroad D Mosca/S Rodrigo 55 Outsider
525 10 War Of Words J O'Brien/N Patrick 52.5 Must win this
131 11 Quick City J Mosca/P Husbands 56.5 Can repeat
414 12 Fire Light D Mosca/R Angnoo 53.5 Outside shot
R6:2.16PM - NLCB CHAMPAGNE STAKES (GRADE ONE) OPEN TO ALL HORSES 3 YO & OVER - 1,600M (TURF) - $150,000
421 1 Buffalo Soldier H Chadee/A Whitehall 57 Outsider
342 2 Sacred Trust J W Samaroo/J Mancilla 55 Big shout
211 3 Chase The Dragon J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 52 Race chance
122 4 Kidz Ro J O'Brien/E Ramsammy 55 Running on
111 5 Headline News J O'Brien/N Abrego 57 One to beat
711 6 Fly Junior R Maharaj/K Khelawan 57 The speed
232 7 Bigman In Town J O'Brien/P Husbands 54 Must win this
R7: 2.51PM - PICK 2 ALL DAY's PLAY - 3 YO & OVER HORSES RATED 70-55 - 1,300M - $43,000
644 1 Plum Plum H Chadee/S Ellis 56 In tough
117 2 Prefect Day H Gobin/P Husbands 54.5 Can take this
363 3 Swapped H Chadee/A Whitehall 53.5 Outside shot
426 4 Loan Shark D Bennett/D Gopie 57 Don't trust
968 5 Guilty As Sin R A Dube/J Stephen 55.5 Must improve
325 6 Pacman L Alexis/R Angnoo 50 Well weighted
211 7 Painted Buddha C Roberts/C Malcolm 54 In good form
212 8 Director Dream J Lyder/N Abrego 57 Can take this
313 9 Against The Odds D Bennett/N Patrick 54 Respected
432 10 Hyat Princess J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 53.5 Speedy
651 11 Zorro J Mosca/K Razack 49.5 In good heart
424 12 Princess She's Not G Mendez/E Ramsammy 55.5 Outside shot
166 13 U Crazy Diamond D Mosca/R Angnoo 55 Can surprise
675 14 Onetokeep H Gobin/K Khelawan 57 Good sort
522 15 Officer Ike R Stephen/R Angnoo 55 In good heart
607 16 Touch D Road R Maharaj/S Samuel 57 No form
459 17 Rhea's Toy Soldier D Mosca/P Badrie 54 Outsider
447 18 Pistons And Rings J O'Brien/N Flavenney 55.5 Don't trust
R8: 3.30PM - DONSAI GAME FOR A LIME - WI BRED 4 YO & OVER MAIDENS - 1,100M (TURF) - $32,000
054 1 Advantage Them K De Freitas/L Keizer 47 Shown speed
328 2 Camelot T Thomas/S Ellis 57 Will go close
967 3 Victoryinthevalley B Persad/J Stephen 54.5 No form
884 4 Awesome Four H Chadee/K Razack 53 Can surprise
065 5 Stroke Of Love L Alexis/R Jadoo 46 Chance
368 6 Golden Mistress R A Dube/N Flavenney 52 Speedy
704 7 Pure Happiness D Bennett/D Gopie 46 Big shout
453 8 Always Ready H Chadee/R Ali 48 Can go close
676 9 Everchangingtimes C Roberts/R Hernandez 51 Outsider
543 10 Waka Waka W Debysingh/B Padrie 48.5 Likes turf
806 11 Music Show C Roberts/K Khelawan 51 No form
345 12 Mawiyya L Alexis/R Thomas 57 Will go close
392 13 Super Easy B Persad/R Hasranah 48.5 Outside shot
R9:4.09PM - VIA THE CONVENIENT WAY TO PLAY - WI BRED 3 YO MAIDENS - 1,200M - $43,000
364 1 Perfect Moment D Mosca/N Flavenney 52.5 Chance
--3 2 Freedomfighter T Thomas/S Rodrigo 57 Will go close
454 3 Faith N' Fortune R A Dube/R Thomas 50.5 Outside shot
--- 4 She's Royal D Ojar/J Stephen 52.5 Debut
750 5 Unbridled Pleasure H Chadee/A Whitehall 50.5 No form
--- 6 Masterpiece J O'Brien/N Abrego 54.5 Highly regarded
--- 7 Caspian Sea D Mosca/J Mancilla 54.5 Newcomer
--4 8 The Cheerleader M Carew Jnr/N Flavenney 54.5 Chance
632 9 Market Rally J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 52.5 The winner
-45 10 Desert Gold G Mendez/R Ali 54.5 Will go close
--6 11 Amritsar G Mendez/E Ramsammy 54.5 Must improve
-05 12 Be Lover R Maharaj/K Khelawan 54.5 Improving
--9 13 King Stand D Mosca/D Butcher 57 Backwards
--- 14 Dig Deep A Gonzalez/J Reyes 54.5 Debut
343 15 Surya D Mosca/P Badrie 52.5 Chance
--2 16 Magnolia Lane H Gobin/S Ellis 52.5 Will go close
R10:4.48PM - NLCB EASTER GUINEAS -GRADE ONE - WI BRED 3 YO - 1,800M - $315,000
111 1 Soca Rhapsody H Gobin/S Ellis 55 Scratched
-12 2 High Octane J O'Brien/R Ali 57 Place chance
111 3 Momentum J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 57 The winner
313 4 Justcallmebas J O'Brien/N Abrego 57 Running on
--1 5 Veins Of Gold H Gobin/N Flavenney 57 In tough
--- 6 Spitfire G Mendez/P Husbands 57 Highly regarded
214 7 Eye See You H Chadee/A Whitehall 57 Outclassed
514 8 Al Kahina H Gobin/R Jadoo 55 Scratched
142 9 Dark Treasure G Mendez/E Ramsammy 57 Can surprise
220 10 Country Boy S Ferreira/P Badrie 57 Galloping well
R11:5.30PM - PICK 4 ALL FOR THE MONEY - 3 YO & OVER HORSES RATED 55-40 - 1,100M (TURF) - $43,000
009 1 Nuaghty N Nice D Ojar/J Stephen 53 No form
429 2 Hesuntouchabull J Mosca/R Thomas 53.5 Big shout
603 3 A Great Millennium M Carew Jnr/P Badrie 56 Speedy
907 4 Lookin At Lovely L Alexis/J Reyes 54.5 Lost way
342 5 Cherie D'Amour J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 52.5 Running on
113 6 Bonnie H Chadee/A Whitehall 53 Speedy
0RR 7 Secret Circle H Chadee/L Keizer 56.5 Changed his mind
968 8 Sweet Genius B Persad/R Hasranah 52.5 Lost way
805 9 Mike's Sugar H Gobin/D Butcher 57 Improving
509 10 Afterthebooks K De Freitas/S Jadoo 57 Don't trust
010 11 Doctor Of Merit M Carew Jnr/R Ali 53.5 In and out
000 12 Brash N Willing T Thomas/R Jadoo 52.5 No form
121 13 Nawab Dr J Suratsing/S Samuel 55.5 Will go close
222 14 Odin J Mosca/N Patrick 55 Big chance
-21 15 Drogbar L Latchmansin/S Chadee 56.5 Outside shot
713 16 Precise Moment S Khan/N Flavenney 54 Can surprise
-21 17 Amber Sky D Mosca/S Rodrigo 54.5 Don't trust
274 18 Traditional Girl J O'Brien/K Khelawan 55 Outsider
SELECTIONS
DANCING BRAVE–Best Bet: R11: Doctor of Merit
R1: Salome, Who is the problem, Cover you Donkey, All is yours
R2: Unguarded Moment, Justmyluck, Dazzling Diamond, Best Defence
R3: Be precise, Captive Witness, Peppermint, Chelsi Magic, Iconic
R4: Coroneo, El Bandido De Oro, King Whistler, Intact
R5: Onefortheroad, Pot of Gold, Prince Zeshan, Quick City, It is Alleged
R6: Headline News, Bigman in Town, Chase the Dragon, Sacred Trust
R7: Swapped, Onetokeep, Officer Ike, Touch D Road, Touch D Road
R8: Super easy, Music Show, Awesome Four, Camelot
R9: Desert Gold, Market Rally, Masterpiece, Magnolia Lane, King Stand
R10: Momentum, Dark Treasure, Country Boy, High Octane
R11: Doctor of Merit, Bonnie, Precise Moment, Hesuntouchabull, Naughty N Nice
The Mechanic–Best Bet: R9: Desert Gold
R1: Who is the Problem, Cover you Donkey, Imagine, All is Yours
R2: Just my Luck, Fire N Faith, Added Time, Casino Host
R3: Be precise, Super Sonic, A Great Moment, Princess warrior, Asia
R4: Coroneo, Star Entertainer, El Bandido de Oro, Intact
R5: Lang Amour, Bergeron Rodeo, War of Words, Quick City, Fire Light
R6: Headline News, Sacred Trust, Bigman in Town, Kidz Ro
R7: Officer Ike, Loan Shark, Against the Odds, Princess She's Not, Rhea's Toy Soldier
R8: Always Ready, Waka Waka, Advantage Them, Mawiyya
R9: Desert Gold, Market Rally, Masterpiece, Freedom Figther, Be My Lover
R10: Momentum, Spitfire, Dark Treasure, High Octane
R11: Hesuntouchabull, Nawab, Odin, Precise Moment, Afterthebooks
Kelvin N–Best Bet: R5: War Of World
R1: Cover You Donkey, Who Is The Problem, Salome, something Black.
R2: Unguarded Moment, Princess Joann, Just My Luck, Best Defence, Casino Host.
R3: Peppermint, Fidelis, A Great Moment, Princess Warrior, Iconic.
R4: Coroner, Star Entertainer, Intact.
R5: War Of Words, Pot Of Gold, Prince Zeshan, Quick City, It Is Alleged.
R6: Bigman In Town, Headline News, Fly Junior, Sacred Yrust.
R7: Perfect Day, Piston And Rings, Zorro, Plum Plum, Director Dream.
R8: Camelot, Waka Waka, Awesome Four, Advantage Them, Always Ready.
R9: Market Rally, Master Piece, Magnolia Lane, Freedom Fighter, Desert Gold.
R10: Momentum, Spitfire, Dark Treasure, High Octane, Country Boy.
R11: Odin, Cherie D'Amour, Doctor Of Merit, Drogbar, Amber Sky.
Eddie A–Best Bet: R7: Plum Plum
R1: Cover You Donkey, Who Is The Problem, Salome.
R2: Just My Luck, Precious Diamond, Fire N' Faith.
R3: The Tactician, Be Precise, A Great Moment, Peppermint.
R4: Coroneo, Star Entertainer, El Bandido De Oro.
R5: War Of Words, Lang Amour, Bergeron Rodeo, Pot Of Gold.
R6: Sacred Trust, Headline News, Fly Junior.
R7: Plum Plum, Loan Shark, Swapped, Princess She's Not.
R8: Camelot, Waka Waka, Always Ready.
R9: Market Rally, Magnolia Lane, Desert Gold, Surya.
R10: Momentum, Spitfire, Justcallmebas.
R11: Odin, Precise Moment, Nawab, Tradition Girl.
The Watcher–Best Bet: R11: Mike's Sugar
R1: Spectacular Return, Cover You Donkey, Imagine, Salome.
R2: Unguarded Moment, Added Time, Precious Diamond, Fire N' Faith.
R3: Captive Witness, A Great Moment, Super Sonic, Peppermint, Asia
R4: Coroneo, Star Entertainer, Thisoneforron, Intact
R5: Bergeron Rodeo, Prince Zehshan, Magic Rust Seal, It is Alleged, War of Words
R6: Headline News, Sacred Trust, Kidz Ro, Fly Junior.
R7: Loan Shark, Against The Odds, Onetokeep, Perfect Day, Director Dream
R8: Golden Mistress, Super Easy, Pure Happiness, Music Show
R9: Market Rally, Surya, Freedom Fighter, Faith N Fortune, Be My Lover
R10: Momentum, High Octane, Justcallmebas, Spitfire.
R11: Mike's Sugar, Precise Moment, He's Untouchable, Doctoir of Merit, Odin