The John O'Brien trained four-year-old filly, Bella Riva, came with a well-timed run to catch the 1-5 favourite General JN, in yesterday's feature event the Grade Three - National Flour Mills Champagne Stakes over 1,600 metres on the turf course at Santa Rosa Park, Arima.
Punters sent Bella Riva off at odds of 7/2, with 'Triple Crown' hero of 2020 Wise Guy, well supported in the betting market at odds of 5/1 on the National Flour Mills-sponsored race day.
Despite his top-weight, the Glenn Mendez trained six-year-old horse General JN was backed as though defeat was out of the question and it seemed likely to happen until 250 metres from home when Brian Boodramsing got the champion juvenile of 2019 going, and she pegged back the hattrick-seeking General JN.
When the starter sent the seven-horse field on their way, Early Bird was first to show from General JN with Root of Jesse and Tiz A Vibe in close attendance. These were followed by Bella Riva and Wise Guy with Cool Cat contented to observe from the rear.
Going down the back-straight, positions changed and Early Bird continued to lead but General JN moved into second ahead of Root of Jesse and Tiz A Vibe, these were some two lengths ahead of Wise Guy and Cool Cat.
Going to the far turn, Early Bird still held sway but only on sufferance as General JN was getting set to launch his attack as the pair opened a three-length gap on Tiz A Vibe in third as Root Of Jesse came under pressure with Bella Riva beginning to take closer order along with Wise Guy as Cool Cat was still at the rear of the field.
With 600m left, Dillon Khelawan sent the Jerry Narace owned General JN into the lead and in a blink of an eye the favourite opened up a five-length lead on Early Bird as Tiz A Vibe tried to make a race of it with Bella Riva closing.
When the horses swung for home, General JN had a healthy six-length advantage and had punters lining up to collect their win bets but Boodramsing and Bella Riva had other ideas. With 300m left, the Poon Tip owned filly began to erode the deficit and with 100m left had collared General JN and began to move away from the top class thoroughbred and stopped General JN from landing a hat-trick of victories on the turf course.
Bella Riva and Boodramsing were a cosy 1 1/4 length winner of the feature from General JN with Wise Guy running on late to snatch third ahead of Cool Cat, who came with a late run to snatch the fourth position from Tiz A Vibe, in a race where champion O'Brien saddled the winner, third and fourth-placed finishers.
The leading rider on National Flour Mills Day at the Races was Sven Balroop who rode two winners on the seven-race card. He was in the winner's enclosure with La Reine for trainer Glenn Mendez in the fourth and followed up in the next event with Princess Alex for trainer Terrence Thomas.
No trainer was able to saddle two winners on the card.
DAY 7 RESULTS
R1: GOOD N' NATURAL BRAND WI BRED 4 YO AND OVER MAIDENS - 1,500M - $12,700
1*(9)*Perfect Saint*J Boodramsing*50.5*
2*(2)*Con Te Partiro*R Jadoo*51*
3*(6)*Gold For John*K Santo*51*
4*(3)*Lord Melody*N Samaroo*54*
TIME: 1:34.4 DISTANCES: 3, 4 1/4, 99 3/4
$1PARI: (9) $2.15; $1.35; (2) $3.45; (6) $3.45
$1EXACTA: $25.40
TRIFECTA: $123.40
SUPERFECTA: $982.45
WINNER: 4 y.o. DK B filly - Saint Vigeur/Perfect Day (Distorted)
OWNER: Ravi Lacaille TRAINER: H Singh
BREEDER: Poon Tip Stud Farm Limited
ALSO RAN: 5. Desert Grass R iHernandez 51; 6. Twitter King D Khelawan 57; 7. Breakthrough K Razack 49.
R2: IBIS PREMIUM BRAND NATIVE BRED 3 YO MAIDENS - 1,100M - $12,700
1*(1)*Patta Patta*R Ali*54*
2*(7)*Stroke Of Luck*K Santo*56*
3*(5)*Prince Connor*K Balgobin*57*
4*(3)*Tequila Sonrise*R Jadoo*57*
TIME: DISTANCES: 2 3/4, 1 1/4, 5.
$1PARI: (1) $1.25; $1.00; (7) $1.05; (5) $1.30
$1EXACTA: $3.80
TRIFECTA: $14.75
SUPERFECTA:$18.90
WINNER: 3 y.o B filly - Saint Vigeur/Panorama Gal (Miracle Man)
OWNER: Estate Of Rolf Bartolo TRAINER: H Gobin
BREEDER: Rolf Bartolo
ALSO RAN: 5. Schwarzenegger N Mohammed 57; 6. D'Humming Bird L C Seecharan 52; 7. Mumbai R iHernandez 57; 8. Alani R oHernandez 55.5.
NON-RUNNERS: Finishing Touch, Hurricane Breeze
R3: LION BRAND MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP 3 YO AND OVER HORSES RATED 70-55 - 1,750M - $16,100
1*(6)*Desert Dancer*D Khelawan*59.5*
2*(5)*Leonardo Angel*N Mohammed*56.5*
3*(8)*Sunset Cloud*R iHernandez*53*
4*(2)*News Flash*B Boodramsing*58.5*
TIME: 1:53.3 DISTANCES: 1/2, 9 1/4, 3.
$1PARI: (6) $15.10; 5.10; (5) $2.50
EXACTA: $103.35
TRIFECTA: $609.50
SUPERFECTA: $1651.50
WINNER: 8 y.o. DK B gelding – Charismatic Cat/Storyteller (Exciting Story)
OWNER: Dillon Nanan TRAINER: G Mohammed
BREEDER: Gerry Harding
ALSO RAN: 5. Chinta L C Seecharan 49.5.
NON-RUNNER: Pleasantly Big.
R4: PERROMAX DOG FOOD MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP 3 YO AND OVER HORSES RATED 45-25 - 1,500M - $13,200
1*(15)*La Reine*S Balroop*53*
2*(9)*Passionate*B Boodramsing*49.5*
3*(10)*CP Jet*D Khelawan*57*
4*(12)*Unsettled*K Santo*53.5*
5*(14)*Marconi*A Poon*53.5*
TIME: 1:33.4 DISTANCES: Sh.Head, 1/2, 1 3/4, 1/2.
$1PARI: (15) $9.00; $2.80 (9) $1.55; (10) $1.70
$1EXACTA: $48.05
TRIFECTA: $597.35
SUPERFECTA: $1,505.75
HI-5: $8,598.40
WINNER: 5 y.o. DK B mare – Vegas No Show/Treasure Girl (Golden Gear)
OWNER: GNT Racing TRAINER: G Mendez
BREEDER: Gary Nunes
ALSO RAN: 6. Zhiiliang P Badrie 56; 7. Peace N Glory J Boodramsing 56.5; 8. Pawan Putra T Phillips 53; 9. Smooth Sailing R iHernandez 55.5; 10. Atalanta R oHernandez 56; 11. Spring Valley K Khelawan 56.
NON-RUNNERS: Awesome Angel, Prince George, Julie, Integrity.
R5: COMMAND PERFORMANCE DOG FOOD MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP 3 YO & OVER HORSES RATED 40-25 - 1,600M - $12,700
1*(3)*Princess Alex*S Balroop*52.5*
2*(6)*Uno Mas*T Phillips*56*
3*(10)*The Big Saint*D Khelawan*55*
4*(2)*Why Kapalua*A Poon*56*
TIME: 1:40.2 DISTANCES: 1/2, Neck, Sh.Head.
$1PARI: (3) $18.30; $2.70; (6) $1.50; (10) $2.55
$1EXACTA: $86.20
TRIFECTA: $528.40
SUPERFECTA: $3,802.48
WINNER: 5 y.o. B mare – Dark Cloud Dancer/Wait'tilotisseesus (Corslew)
OWNER: Anurhud Persad TRAINER: T Thomas
BREEDER: Charles James
ALSO RAN: 5. Unsettled Heart N Mohammed 53.5; 6. Joseph R iHernandez 54; 7. Reprisal K Santo 52.5; 8. Proud Vanessa K Khelawan 56; 9. Tiz Show Time P Badrie 55.5; 10. Zanza B Boodramsing 49.5; 11. Mano N Samaroo 58; 12. No More Regrets R Balgobin 53.
NON-RUNNER: Single Bullet
R6: NATIONAL FLOUR MILLS CHAMPAGNE STAKES (GR III) 1,600M - $30,000
1*(4)*Bella Riva*B Boodramsing*49.5*
2*(7)*General JN*D Khelawan*57*
3*(5)*Wise Guy*K Santo*49.5*
4*(1)*Cool Cat*R iHernandez*51*
TIME: 1:38.0 DISTANCES: 1 1/4, 3 1/2, 1/2.
$1PARI: (4) $4.90; $1.40 (7) $1.10
$1EXACTA: $18.80
TRIFECTA: $63.00
SUPERFECTA: $355.95
WINNER: 4 y.o DK B filly - Saint Vigeur/Grand Riviere (A Great Team)
OWNER: Poon Tip Stud Farm Limited TRAINER: J O'Brien
BREEDER: Poon Tip Stud Farm Limited
ALSO RAN: 5. Tiz A Vibe K Razack 48; 6. Early Bird K Balgobin 57; 7. Root Of Jesse R Jadoo 54.
R7: NATIONAL FEEDS MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP 3 YO AND OVER HORSES RATED 30-0 - 1,350M - $13,200
1*(9)*Fortune Teller*K Khelawan*57*
2*(8)*Comandante*R Jadoo*58*
3*(6)*The Spokesman*N Samaroo*58*
4*(10)*Lady Hamilton*P Badrie*57*
5*(11)*El Chapo*K Santo*53*
TIME: 1:24.4 DISTANCES: Head, 3 1/4, 1, 1 1/4.
$1PARI: (9) $3.45; $1.45; (8) $1.65; (6) $1.40
$1EXACTA: $25.35
TRIFECTA: $67.00
SUPERFECTA: $312.75
HI-5: $8,698.80
WINNER: 7 y.o CH mare - Big Country/Wonderful Whirl (Pleasantly Perfect)
OWNER: Dave Chadee TRAINER: H Chadee
BREEDER: Zanim Ralph Meahjohn
ALSO RAN: 6. Verses A Poon 55.5; 7. Trusty Rose L C Seecharan 49.5; 8. Goldforfree R iHernandez 53; 9. Golazo N Mohammed 57; 10. Atta Girl Silvy J Boodramsing 57.5.
NON-RUNNERS: Man On Fire, She WBO on Time.