Caesar Country superbly ridden by apprentice Kimal Santo gave champion trainer Glenn Mendez a shock, when he upstaged his highly reputed stablemate and the 2018 Stewards Cup winner Whisper Light and Princess Suri to win yesterday's feature Handicap for Horses Rated 70 and Over going over a distance of 1,350 metres.
Sent off at odds of 10-1 in the betting Caesar Country ran way better than his odds shown in the $51,000 purse event which attracted a field of six top performers.
Punters made the Shaffique Khan trained Princess Suri, the even-money favourite with Whisper Light and Pauseforacoors well supported at odds of 2-1 respectively.
When the starter Carl Ramsaroop sent the six-horse field on its way Princess Suri was first to show from Whisper Light as the two battled for the lead. They were tracked by Caesar Country and Trini Navigator and Pauseforacoors with old-stage Buffalo Soldier trailing some eight lengths off.
Going to the far turn young Santo made a bold move which won him the race as he drove Caesar Country between the two pacesetters Princess Suri and Whisper Light to take the lead. However, with 700 metres left Caesar Country still led but Ricky Jadoo was rousing Princess Suri to try to get on terms with the leader as Whisper Light began to come under pressure as Pauseforacoors moved stylishly forward to the leaders. Trini Navigator lost his pitch but Buffalo Soldier was now beginning to make giant steps toward the front.
At the corner, Caesar Country was being ridden along to maintain his advantage but his honesty was showing as he kept finding more under pressure. It was with 200 metres left that Jadoo asked Princess Suri to go win her race but try as the filly did she failed to peg back Caesar Country by a short -head at the line.
Buffalo Soldier ran on strongly to get third ahead of Whisper Light as Pauseforacoors dropped away late.
The winner recorded the time of 1:21. 69 for the trip.
Riding honours for the day fell to Yosenyer Serrano who rode two winners in zhiliang and Unsettled Heart. Trainer honours went to Harriram Gobin who saddled two winners.