Owner Dave Chadee, invigorated by the performances of his string in the last two months, will be expecting his five-year-old gelding Buffalo Soldier, to continue the winning tradition of the stable in today's co-feature Grade I � Bernard Dulal-Whiteway Independence Cup over 1,800 metres on the turf, at Santa Rosa Park, Arima.
As the nation celebrates it's 52nd Anniversary of Independence, Buffalo Soldier can strike on Massy Day At The Races.
The son of Sharp Humor/Quarteria has scored only one win for the season but has been knocking down the door to get back into the winner's circle. Last time out, he finished second to a wound-up Bigman In Town but today he has no rival of last year's Derby winner in the field. In addition, this event is on the turf track where he went down to Kidz Ro by one and a half length. This time, he is five kilos better off.
Jose William-Samaroo's Sacred Trust has been prepared for this event and with Keiron Khelawan astride will go close. Glenn Mendez's-trained Urban Knight scored a minor upset last time out when he defeated the hitherto-unbeaten Momentum over 1,350 metres, but this will be his first venture on the grass track.
Fly Junior, from the Maniram Maharaj, stables will be hoping of landing the stable's second win in this event in three years. The stable was successful with First To Fly in 2011. Fly Junior has won over 1,700 metres but today's distance could find him out especially if it rides slower than good. Bergeron Rodeo must have a great shot in the event with Prayven Badrie astride. This horse keeps improving and could upset the favourites.
Jamaican-bred filly Princess Popstar will be all the rage for the Massy Oaks Stakes. The unbeaten Princess Popstar will attempt to maintain her unbeaten tag in the 1,800-metre event. The 2Penyu-owned Jamaica-bred filly has will have as her main contender today, another Jamaican Triple Crown Leg winner Raeven Renae which is owned by Merlin Samlalsingh.
Princess Popstar has won her six starts by an accumulated 56 1/2 lengths and will be difficult to beat.
Glorious Country and Market Rally should be within hailing distance at the end of the event.
Also in the jockey's room at Santa Rosa today will be Emile Ramsammy, making a return home from his base at Woodbine in Canada.
The Arima Race Club (ARC) has put together a very competitive programme with more than $800,000 in purse money on offer.
INDEPENDENCE DAY RACE CARD
R1: 11.00 AM – NISSAN OPTIONAL CLAIMING ($30,000 - $27,000)– 3 Y.O & OVER HORSES RATED 60-45–1,200 Metres � $40,000
65D 1 A Great Millennium M Carew Jnr/S Samuel 52 Speedy
248 2 My Ari D Mosca/D Gopie 57 Outsider
995 3 Rewardsinheaven B Persad/D Blackman 57 Lost way
856 4 Khartoum J Mosca/J Arneaud 56.5 In tough
832 5 Bigman Bas G Subratie/N Abrego 56.5 One to beat
377 6 Rhea's Toy Soldier D Mosca/E Ramsammy 57 Chance
112 7 The Tactician H Gobin/S Ellis 57 Will go close
548 8 Zorro J Mosca/R Angnoo 53.5 Outside shot
211 9 Drogbar L Latchmansin/D Khelawan 57 In great form
R2: 12 NOON – CHIVAS W.I. BRED 3 Y.O. & OVER MAIDENS– 1,200 Metres � $43,000
--- 1 Glorify S Subratie/N Abrego 57 Respected on debut
-36 2 Champagne Affair J O'Brien/D Khelawan 54.5 Chance
335 3 Desert Gold G Mendez/R Ali 54.5 Can go close
848 4 Jacob's Dream J O'Brien/K Khelawan 52 Must improve
--- 5 Awesome Lu Lu J Mosca/P Badrie 52.5 Big shout
472 6 Precise Gold S Jardim/R Angnoo 52.5 Can surprise
073 7 Time Tables R Maharaj/D Gopie 52 On upgrade
804 8 Ice'D'Gold M Glasgow/R Jadoo 49.5 Disappointing
-22 9 Rio Grande J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 52.5 One to beat
447 10 Danceinthepark H Singh/C Malcolm 47 Place chance
-46 11 Heroes N Legends H Gobin/D Butcher 54.5 Outside shot
R3: 12.50PM – POWER MASTER 3 Y.O. & OVER HORSES RATED 70 & OVER– 1,200 Metres-- $87,000
224 1 Holy Man S Khan/R Angnoo 51 Good sort
218 2 Readbetweendlines G Mendez/R Angnoo 57 Scratched
616 3 Secret American T Thomas/J Stephen 45.5 Needs further
441 4 Signal Alert G Mendez/R Ali 55.5 One to catch
181 5 Wild Excitement S Jardim/P Badrie 46.5 Can surprise
434 6 Intact J Mosca/D Gopie 48 Very speedy
R4: 1.28PM – MASSY TECHNOLOGIES OPTIONAL CLAIMING ($24,000 - $22,000) � 3 Y.0 & OVER HORSES RATED 55-40– 1,750 Metres � $36,400
203 1 Red River J Mosca/R Angnoo 51 Outside shot
745 2 Lady Angelica J O'Brien/D Khelawan 55 Keeps dropping
534 3 U Crazy Diamond D Mosca/D Gopie 57 In and out
670 4 All For The Haul A Gonzalez/E Ramsammy 57 Chance
317 5 Raise Your Glass S Khan/N Abrego 55 Can go close
743 6 Soca Train G Mendez/W Galviz 55.5 Can take this
915 7 Freedomfighter T Thomas/S Ellis 55 Must win this
622 8 Mike's Sugar H Gobin/R Ali 53.5 Back to form
214 9 Sweet Genius B Persad/D Butcher 54 Can go close
R5: 2.06PM – MASSY OAKS STAKES(GR.I)– W.I BRED 3 Y.O. FILLIES � 1,800 Metres � $200,000
641 1 Market Rally J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 55 In tough
112 2 Glorious Country G Mendez/R Ali 55 On the upgrade
524 3 Soca Rhapsody H Gobin/E Ramsammy 55 Lost way
--- 4 Princess Popstar J O'Brien/W Galviz 55 The winner
--- 5 Raeven Renae A Nunes/S Ellis 55 Will make a race
R6: 2.48PM – RICCOH OPTIONAL CLAIMING ($9,000 - $7,000)– 3 Y.O. & OVER HORSES RATED 25-0–1,400 Metres (TURF) � $28,000
308 1 Advantage Them R Ramroop/N Abrego 55.5 Place chance
279 2 Hotel California W Debysingh/P Badrie 57 Scratched
754 3 Really Classy B Persad/D Butcher 56 In tough
046 4 Born To Run W Debysingh/C Malcolm 56 Outside shot
18R 5 Waka Waka W Debysingh/J Arneaud 57 Scratched
776 6 Red-Hot Wheels L Latchmansin/D Khelawan 56.5 Chance
9D0 7 Traditional Song H Gobin/R Jadoo 56.5 Forget
979 8 Western Wish J Lyder/L Keizer 49.5 Ditto
787 9 Sweet Parang Music J Rampersad/C Malcolm 49.5 Outsider
809 10 Danzig's Day R Maharaj/H Chadee 57 Respected
702 11 Precious Lilly M Carew Jnr/S Ellis 57 Can go close
367 12 Dazzling Diamond L Alexis/R Thomas 53.5 Speedy
948 13 Always Ready A Gonzalez/E Ramsammy 56 One to beat
R7: 3.26PM – MASSY UNITED INSURANCE 3 Y.O. & OVER HORSES RATED 70-55– 1,700 Metres � $43,000
547 1 Onetokeep S Khan/N Abrego 56 Outside shot
--- 2 Rocketman J O'Brien/E Ramsammy 57 scratched
211 3 Eye See You A Gonzalez/B Boodramsing 55 Scratched
471 4 Farad B Persad/L Keizer 54.5 Respected
556 5 Nettoyer H Gobin/R Ali 55.5 Needs shorter
252 6 Red Howler L Latchmansin/D Khelawan 50.5 Running on
806 7 It Is Alleged H Gobin/R Jadoo 54.5 Not recommended
--2 8 Spitfire G Mendez/W Galviz 55.5 The winner
443 9 Magic Rust Seal B Persad/J Stephen 56 Chance
R8: 4.08PM � MASSY CAT OPTIONAL CLAIMING ($15,000 - $13,000) –3 Y.O. & OVER HORSES RATED 40-0– 1,050 Metres (TURF) � $33,000
442 1 Peppermint Dr Suratsingh/S Samuel 57 Can take this
948 2 The Problem Solver J Mosca/D Blackman 54 Ready
316 3 Cordell Walker H Gobin/N Abrego 54.5 Chance
709 4 Mawiyya L Alexis/R Hernandez 57 Respected
778 5 Consideritdone H Gobin/P Badrie 57 Needs further
554 6 Caipirinha M Glasgow/B Boodramsing 56 Will go close
435 7 Imagine W Debysingh/E Ramsammy 57 Can take this
261 8 Star Dreamer A Gonzalez/N Flavenney 54.5 Repeat
353 9 Justmyluck T Thomas/S Ellis 56 Can go close
517 10 My Giselle E De Freitas/R Jadoo 53 In and out
056 11 Enigmatic J Rampersad/J Reyes 54 Can surprise
745 12 Brash N Willing T Thomas/R Angnoo 57 Outsider
294 13 Gold Coin T Thomas/D Butcher 57 Running on
231 14 Fire N' Faith R Ramroop/N Abrgeo 54 Needs further
633 15 Uncle Max S Khan/C Malcolm 53 Outsider
R9: 4.48PM � BERNARD DULAL-WHITEWAY INDEPENDENCE CUP (GR.I)– HORSES 3 Y.O'S & OVER– 1,800 Metres (TURF) � $200,000
166 1 Fly Junior R Maharaj/N Abrego 57 The speed
121 2 Urban Knight G Mendez/W Galviz 54 In great form
413 3 Kidz Ro J O'Brien/S Ellis 55 Running on
541 4 Chase The Dragon J O'Brien/B Boodramsing 52 In tough
282 5 Buffalo Soldier A Gonzalez/E Ramsammy 57 One to beat
377 6 Sacred Trust J W-Samaroo/K Khelawan 55 Will go close
615 7 Bergeron Rodeo S Khan/P Badrie 52 Chance
R10: 5.30PM � MASSY STORES OPTIONAL CLAIMING ($18,000-$16,000)– 3 Y.O. & OVER HORSES RATED 45-0– 1,100 Metres � $33,000
822 1 Princess Warrior D Mosca/B Pahal 57 Running on
776 2 Stairway To Heaven T Thomas/D Butcher 57 Can surprise
622 3 Lady Sage A Gonzalez/N Abrego 55.5 One to beat
083 4 Champagne On Ice H Gobin/S Ellis 55.5 Can take this
561 5 Faith N Fortune R Bridgelal/L Keizer 56.5 Repeat
599 6 Messi C Roberts/R Jadoo 57 Running on
585 7 Queen Esther J Mosca/R Angnoo 54.5 Good speed
959 8 Galadriel H Gobin/J Reyes 54.5 No form
453 9 Double Roses B Persad/J Stephen 56 Shown speed
614 10 Super Sonic T Thomas/D Butcher 54.5 Ready
228 11 Nothing Left R Maharaj/D Gopie 57 The speed
Selections?
Kelvin 'N'
Starbet: R9 Buffalo Soldier
R1: My Ari, Bigman Bas, Rhea Toy Soldier
R2: Rio Grande, Precise Gold, Desert Gold, Glorify, Heroes N Legends
R3: Signal Alert, Holy Man, Intact
R4: Freedom Fighter, Soca Train, U Crazy Diamond, Mike's Sugar, Lady Angelica
R5: Princess Popstar, Raeven Renae, Glorios Country
R6: Always Ready, Danzig Day, Precious Lily, Red Ho Wheels, Traditional Song,
R7: Spitfire, Farad, It Is Alleged
R8: Imagine, Justmyluck, Enigmatic, Star Dreamer, Problem Solver
R9: Buffalo Soldier, Bergeron rodeo, Kidz Ro, Sacred Trust
R10: Princess Warrior, Lady Sage, Messi, Queen Esther, Super SonicBy -Dancing Brave-
Eddie A
Starbet: R10 Double Roses
R1: The Tactician, Bigman Bas, Rhea's Toy Soldier.
R2: Desert Gold, Jacob's Dream, Rio Grande, Glorify.
R3: Signal Alert, Readbetweendlines, Holy Man.
R4: U Crazy Diamond, Soca Train, Mike's Sugar, Freedom Fighter.
R5: Princess Popstar, Raven Renae.
R6: Hotel California, Really Classy, Precious Lilly, Always Ready.
R7: Spitfire, Eye See You, Rocketman.
R8: Peppermint, Justmyluck, Caipirinha, Imagine.
R9: Kidz Ro, Buffalo Soldier, Fly Junior.
R10: Double Roses, Princess Warrior, Faith N' Fortune, Lady Sage.
Dancing Brave
Starbet: R10 Princess Warrior
R1: Zorro, The Tactician, Drogbar, Bigman Bas
R2: Desert Gold, Rio Grande, Glorify, Precise Gold, Time Tables
R3: Signal Alert, Holy Man, Intact, Secret American
R4: U Crazy Diamond, Red River, Mike's Sugar, Raise Your Glass
R5: Glorious Country, Princess Popstar, Raven Renae, Market Rally
R6: Really Classy, Danzig's Day, Always Ready, Waka Waka, Red Hot Wheels
R7: Red Howler, Spitfire, Rocketman, Eye See You
R8: MawiyyaImagine, My Giselle, Gold Coin, Just my Luck
R9: Sacred Trust, Urban Knight, Chase the Dragon, Kidz Ro
R10: Princess Warrior, Lady Sage, Galadriel, Nothing Left, Messi
The Mechanic
Starbet: R5 Glorious Country
R1: Rhea's Toy Soldier, Bigman Bas, Drogbar, Zorro
R2: Desert Gold, Rio Grande, Precise Gold, Ice d Gold, Dance in the Park
R3: Mike's Sugar, Soca Train, Freedom Fighter, U Crazy Diamond
R4: Signal Alert , Holy Man, Intact , Wild Excitement
R5: Glorious Country ( Nap Selection),Princess Popstar, Raeven Renae, Market Rally
R6: Precious Lily, Really Classy, Always Ready, Advantage Them, Sweet Parang Music
R7: SpitFire, Rocketman, Eye See You, Red Howler
R8: Peppermint, Just My Luck, Brash N Willing, Imagine, Caipirinha
R9: Urban Knight, Buffalo Soldier, Sacred Trust, Kidz Ro
R10: Lady Sage, Princess Warrior, Champagne on Ice, Double Roses, Faith and Fortune
?
The Watcher
Starbet; R5; Princess Popstar
R1: Bigman Bas, Rhea, My Ari, Toy Soldier
R2: Desert Gold, Rio Grande, Precise Gold, Glorify
R3: Signal Alert, Holy Man, Intact
R4: Mike's Sugar, Lady Angelica, Freedom Fighter, Soca Train, U Crazy Diamond
R5: Princess Popstar, Raeven Renae, Glorios Country
R6: Hotel California, Precious Lilly, Always Ready, Really Classy
R7: Eye See You, Rocketman, Spitfire,
R8: Imagine.Peppermint, Justmyluck, Caipirinha,
R9: Kidz Ro, Buffalo Soldier, Fly Junior.
R10: Faith N' Fortune, Double Roses, Princess Warrior, Lady Sage.