Wild Excitement held off a fast finishing by Sacred Trust to win the Grade Two–First Citizens Sian's Gold Sprint, over 1,100 metres on the turf track at Santa Rosa Park, Arima.
Sent off as the third favourite at 5/2 the Glenn Mendez trained five year-old chestnut horse repelled the persistent late challenge of Sacred Trust to take the $90,000 first prize for connections by half-a-length.
Punters made the Shaffique Khan trained Holy Man 9-5 favourite, ahead of Steward's Cup hero Crime of Passion which was the second favourite at 2/1.
Last year's winner Indian Medicine set the pace from the off and was tracked by Wild Excitement with Sacred Trust close up. These were followed by Macho Trini, Crime of Passion and Holy Man, with Khartoum in touch and Fly Junior trailing.
At the far turn, Wild Excitement was sent on by Wilmer Galviz ahead of Macho Trini as Indian Medicine faded into third. Crime of Passion, Sacred Trust and Holy Man followed.
Inside the final 300 metres, Wild Excitement held a three-length advantage over Macho Trini as Sacred Trust was asked to go and catch the leader by Kerron Khelawan and Nobel Abrego followed suit on Crime of Passion.
Though Scared Trust bolted up the straight, the post came in time for Wild Excitement with Crime of Passion, one and a half lengths back in third.
The winner recorded the time of 1:05.00 for the trip.
In the Stud Farm Association Trial Stakes over 1,350 metres two horses making their debut took the honours, as the Shaffique Khan Osceaola Parkway, ridden by Prayven Badrie, scored an upset, winning by 3 � lengths. The runner-up was the 70-1 outsider Sunset Cloud which picked up the running 500 metres out under Ricky Jadoo and set sail for home. But the Aga Stables owned Osceola Parkway ran on strongly to deny Sunset Cloud.
Third was Swept Away with Way To Go in fourth. The time recorded fo the event was 1:24.3.
The First Citizens First Sprint run over 1,200 metres saw the overwhelming favourite Control Unit in control. The Mendez trained colt helf off early challenges from Danube Waltz and Clermont County before putting the race to bed under Galviz.
At the 200 metres marker, the colt was three lengths ahead of American Ranger which ran on strongly without ever threatening the winner.
Control Unit registered the time of 1:12.2 for his victory for owner the S.I.R Stables.
The honour of winning the first race of the season fell to trainer Kenneth DeSilva who saddled Surya with former champion jockey Emile Ramsammy in the saddle for owner Dr Nandalal Dharrie Maharaj.
Riding honours for the day fell to three-kilo claiming apprentice Jovika Boodramsing who rode three winners while training honours fell to Mendez who saddled three winners on the 11-race card.