The John O’Brien trained four-year-old Ear­ly Bird gave a wel­come boost to the lo­cal rac­ing in­dus­try when he won the pres­ti­gious dou­ble of Stew­ard’s Cup and Sian’s Gold Sprint at the start of the new year.

The Hugh Leong Poi-owned geld­ing won the fi­nal sprint event for the 2019 rac­ing sea­son and fol­lowed up by tak­ing the first Grad­ed event for the 2020 rac­ing sea­son.

On New Year’s Day, cham­pi­on jock­ey Bri­an Boodram­s­ing flew out from his out­side post and was nev­er head­ed. Al­though Tri­ni Avi­a­tor and the Glenn Mendez-trained Spoke In Yuh Wheel chal­lenged strong­ly in the fi­nal 200 me­tres, the son of Gold Mar­ket/Ros­alin­da was not to be de­nied.

Train­er Harold Chadee was the star on the open­ing day of the lo­cal rac­ing sea­son, sad­dling three win­ners on the eight-race card.

Here is the RE­FLEC­TION for Day One of the ARC 2020 Rac­ing Sea­son.

R1: Fake News – Be­hind ear­ly, ef­fort 500 me­tres out, every chance fi­nal 200 me­tres, ran on well to lead post.

Pure Plea­sure – Led, clear cor­ner, ran on well, caught on line. Un­lucky.

Vere­ses – Be­hind and trail­ing first 600 me­tres, ef­fort and every chance cor­ner, stayed on.

Vesara – Close up, every chance cor­ner, un­able to quick­en fi­nal 100 me­tres.

Li­on’s Por­tion – Close up, every chance dis­tance, weak­ened.

R2: Wel­come­tod­par­ty – Close up, chal­lenged for lead far turn, every chance fi­nal 300 me­tres, stayed on well.

Team Spir­it – Led ear­ly, made vir­tu­al­ly all, ran on well, close home. Un­lucky.

Tea Par­ty – Be­hind, ef­fort far turn, every chance cor­ner, ran on.

The Last Li­oness – Be­hind ear­ly, ef­fort far turn, ran on fi­nal 300 me­tres with­out trou­bling prin­ci­pals.

Joseph – Close up and every chance cor­ner, weak­ened fi­nal 200 me­tres.

R3: Nu­clear Fir – Mid-di­vi­sion, ef­fort 500 me­tres out, roused firm­ly 200 me­tres out, ran on strong­ly to lead post.

En­chant­ed Cat – Showed good speed, led and go­ing well, clear lead 300 me­tres out, caught on line. Un­lucky.

Proud Vanes­sa – In touch, rid­den along far turn, every chance cor­ner, ran on.

Smooth Sail­ing – Al­ways mid-pack, ef­fort 500 me­tres, stayed on.

Con Te Par­tiro – Showed good ear­ly speed, weak­ened dis­tance. Will im­prove.

R4: Mem­o­ries – Tracked lead­ers, ef­fort to go sec­ond 500 me­tres out, every chance fi­nal 200 me­tres, ran on well to get up close home.

Jessie’s Girl – Close up un­til led go­ing down the back-straight, every chance when pulled clear 400 me­tres out. Stayed on well, caught close home.

Riv­er Se­cret – Al­ways promi­nent, every chance 400 me­tres out, ran on.

Coun­try Boy – Mid-di­vi­sion ear­ly, every chance 500 me­tres out, stayed on.

Well Con­nect­ed – Close up, every chance cor­ner, weak­ened.

R5: Mar­ket Leader – Tracked ear­ly pace un­til led go­ing to far turn. Go­ing well, the geld­ing quick­ened clear fi­nal 200 me­tres for a good win.

Sweet So­ca Star – Mid-di­vi­sion ear­ly, ef­fort 500 me­tres out, every chance cor­ner, ran on well.

Lo­ca­tor – Mid-pack ear­ly, ef­fort far turn. Im­proved po­si­tion cor­ner, ran on well.

Myra Mary – Led and clear, every chance cor­ner un­able to quick­en fi­nal 200 me­tres.

Bul­let­proof – Al­ways in the van, every chance cor­ner, stayed on.

R6: Prince of Belle Vue – Mid-di­vi­sion, rid­den with ut­most con­fi­dence. Moved up eas­i­ly far turn, quick­ened in­to lead 500 me­tres out, ran on well for an im­pres­sive vic­to­ry.

Fast N Fu­ri­ous – In touch and go­ing well, every chance cor­ner, stayed on well.

Nabawi – In touch and go­ing well, ef­fort far turn, ran on fi­nal 200 me­tres.

News Flash – Close up, every chance far turn, ran on.

Maren­go – Led ear­ly, every chance far turn, un­able to quick­en fi­nal 200 me­tres.

R7: Ear­ly Bird – Made all, chal­lenged strong­ly 300 me­tres out, ran on well. Im­pres­sive.

Tri­ni Avi­a­tor – In touch, every chance fi­nal 400 me­tres, ran on well.

Spoke In Yuh Wheel – In touch and chas­ing leader, chal­lenge 400 me­tres out, ran on strong­ly fi­nal 200 me­tres, un­able to peg back the win­ner.

Tiz A Vibe – Close up and chas­ing lead­ers, every chance fi­nal 400 me­tres, stayed on.

Stock­yard – Be­hind ear­ly, ef­fort far turn, hard rid­den to close, un­able to get to lead­ers.

R8: Pure Strike – Chased leader, chal­lenged 400 me­tres out, got a good rail run and ran on well close home.

Sin­gle Bul­let – In touch and go­ing well, chal­lenged for lead 500 me­tres out, led cor­ner, looked like­ly win­ner un­til sta­ble­mate snatched it close home.

Mar­coni – Led, pressed from far turn, every chance cor­ner, weak­ened fi­nal 100 me­tres.

Uno Mas – Mid-di­vi­sion, every chance far turn, ran on.

Raven Re­nae – Hard rid­den far turn, every chance cor­ner, ran on.