3 months ago
11
The Diane Scott-owned Headliner is one step away from winning local racing’s Triple Crown, and judging from the performance seen Friday (August 1) at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, it’s just a matter of time.
Headliner, the prohibitive favourite at 1-9 in the betting, gave turfites, punters and fans a most exhilarating performance in winning the Grade One – Midsummer Classic by 6 1/2 lengths in the time of 1:50.21. Champion trainer John O’Brien was confident that his charge would win and stated, “He is a good horse and has won all his races in superb fashion. There is the Derby to come and it will take a super-performance by another three-year-old to stop him from winning.”
Sent straight into the lead, the son of Headline News out of B’s Passion never saw another rival until they came back to the paddock.
Champion jockey Dillon Khelawan was happy with the colt’s performance and signalled that the Derby on Republic Day is next. Khelawan was the day’s leading rider, landing four winners on Emancipation Day.
When the horse left the gates, Soca Esctacy was first to show but after 200 metres, the lead was in the hands of the favourite Headliner, which did not jump alertly on this occasion. When they passed the stands for the first time, it was Headliner leading by three lengths from Soca Esctacy with Showtime and Supreme Leader in touch, Free Pass followed and then came The Falcon.
One must note that Just Isa Bella did not face the starter. Going down the back-straight, Headliner opened up an eight-length lead on Soca Harmony with the two Jonathan Lyder-trained horses, Supreme Leader and Showtime, attempting to close the deficit. These were followed by Free Pass with The Falcon, the last of the six horses.
At the far turn, it was all Headliner and the gap grew to ten lengths. It was here that Soca Esctacy came under pressure as the Lyder pair of Supreme Leader and Showtime attempted to come forth. As the horses swung into the straight, it looked like a one-horse race with Headliner some 12 lengths in the lead on the soft track. However, he kept up the gallop to give Khelawan his biggest day in racing, five winners.
Second was Supreme Leaders and Showtime was third.
Headliner, the unbeaten colt, won the second leg of local racing’s Triple Crown impressively.
Owner Diane Scott was elated with the results, saying, “He is amazing. He goes off fast and keeps running.”
In the sixth race on the card, the champion horse of T&T, Hello World, showed his undoubted class when winning by 8 1/2 lengths. He trailed the field for the first three furlongs before making a magnificent move going up the back and staying on strongly for another impressive success from Sneaky Cheeky and Crown Prince. The Tanglewood Stakes winner is now back to his best and what a race we could have in the Gold Cup between this country’s two best horses, Hello World and Headliner.
Trainer Michael Lutchman had a great birthday gift in the opening event when Valiante opened the Emancipation Day card with a win by nine lengths.
The top trainer and jockey today were O’Brien and Khelawan, who won four races on the day. Well done gentlemen.
ARC DAY 7 RESULTS
R1: NATIVE BRED 3 YO AND OVER MAIDENS – 1,200M – $16,800
1*4*Valiante*R Jadoo*57*
2*3*Nuclear War*O Mohammed*57*
3*1*Super Nova*D Khelawan*57*
4*2*Destiny*J Stephen*54.5*
TIME: 1:15.0 DISTANCES: 9, 3/4, 26 3/4
$1 PARI: (4) $1.50
EXACTA: $3.55
TRIFECTA: $2.40
Winner: 3 yo b c – Saint Vigeur/Just Cruizin (Gold Market)
OWNER: Estate Of Dr Altman Ragoobarsingh
TRAINER: Michael Lutchman
BREEDER: Poon Tip Stud Farm Limited
R2: MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP 3YO AND OVER HORSES RATED 60-45 – 1,350M – $21,400
1*(2)*Mia’s Cat*J Stephen*56.5*
2*(4)*Uncle Rog*T Phillips*57*
3*(3)*Princess Royal*T Phillips*57*
TIME: 1:24.4 DISTANCES: 5 3/4, 12
$1 PARI:(2) $2.05
EXACTA:Not Recorded
TRIFECTA:Not Recorded
WINNER: 6 yo m Palace Malace/Eliza’s Cat (Malibu Moon)
OWNER: Totally Horses Racing Stables TRAINER: Jonathan Lyder
BREEDER: Bridlewood Farm
R3: MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP 3 YO AND OVER HORSES RATED 30-0 – 1,350M $16,800
1*(3)*Mona Lisa*D Khelawan*58*
2*(2)*Capital Tee*S Sookhan*50.5*
3*(4)*Uncle Ben*A Balroop*54.5*
4*(5)*Pure Strike*T Phillips*53.5*
TIME: 1:26.0 DISTANCES 18 1/2, 6, 1 3/4
$1 PARI: (3) $1.30
EXACTA:$5.10
TRIFECTA:$6.55
WINNER: 6yo DK B m Da Vinci/Glorious Moment (Ministar)
OWNER: Patrick L Boyce TRAINER: Richard Frederick
BREEDER: D Benett, R Bernard & R Kanta Persad
R4: MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP 3 YO AND OVER HORSES RATED 35-0 – 1,350M $17,300
1*(1)*Sydney*D Khelawan*56*
2*(3)*Ukraine*T Phillips*57.5*
3*(5)*Red Alert*R Jadoo*58.5*
4*(8)*Bold And Brave*A Balroop*54.5*
5*(4)*Empress Hassan*O Mohammed*57.5*
TIME:1:23.1 DISTANCES: 11, 3 1/4, 1, 3, 9 3/4, 3/4
$1 PARI: (1) $1.45; $1.00; (3) $1.00; (5) $1.00
EXACTA:$3.00
TRIFECTA:$7.15
SUPERFECTA:$173.20
HI-5: $342.20
WINNER: 3 yo bf J’Ourvert/Blind Date (Gold Market)
Owner: Therbhuwan Jagdeo TRAINER: John O’Brien
BREEDER: Neil Poon Tip, Gerry Harding & John O’Brien
ALSO RAN: 6. Unbelievable A Daniel 55; 7. Crystal Alert R Jadoo 51.
R5: MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP 3 YO AND OVER HORSES RATED 45-30 – 1,350M $16,800
1*(3)*Have A Great Day *R Ramkhelawan*55.5*
2*(1)*Bourbon Blitz*A Daniel*54.5*
3*(5)*Creme De La Creme*T Phillips*54*
4*(4)*Prince Connor*J Stephen*56*
5*(2)*Schwarzenegger*O Mohammed*57.5*
TIME:1:23.4 DISTANCES 1 3/4, 5 1/2, 2, 1
$1 PARI: Not Recorded
EXACTA:$1.50
TRIFECTA:$18.80
WINNER: 3 yo db c Headline News/Perfect Day (Distorted)
OWNER: R & N Stables TRAINER: John O’Brien
BREEDER: Poon Tip Stud Farm Limited
R6: MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP 3 YO AND OVER HORSES RATED 70 AND OVER – 1,750M $21.400
1*(6)Hello World*D Khelawan*60*
2*(4)Sneaky Cheeky*T Phillips*52.5*
3*(1)Crown Prince*A Daniel*56*
4*(2)Arsalan*R Jadoo*51*
5*(3)Striking Chrome*J Stephen*54.5*
TIME: 1:24.0 DISTANCEs: 8 1/2, 9 3/4, 5 1/4, 7 3/4
$1 PARI:Not Recorded
EXACTA: $2.45
TRIFECTA: $3.85
WINNER: 5yo DK B h – Ten Meropa/Grand Riviere (A Great Team)
OWNER: Poon Tip Stud Farm Limited TRAINER: John O’Brien
BREEDER: Poon Tip Stud Farm
R7: MIDSUMMER CLASSIC (GR1 (R) – OPEN TO WI BRED 3 YO 1,800M (TURF) – $87,416
1*(4)*Headliner*D Khelawan*57*
2*(3)*Free Pass*T Phillips*57*
3*(1)*Showtime*J Stephen*56*
4*(6)Soca Ecstacy*A Daniel*54*
ALSO RAN: Supreme Leader O Mohammed 57; 6. The Falcon J Boodramsing 57. Non-Runner – Just Isa Bella
TIME: 1:57.4 DISTANCEs: 6 1/4, 9 3/4, 5, 1
$1 PARI:$1.00, 2.10; (3) $1.70
EXACTA: $2.25
TRIFECTA: $6.45 SUPERFECTA -$19.00
WINNER: 3 y.o. ch. c. – Headline News/B’s Passion (Precise Sweep)
OWNER: Mrs. Diane Scott TRAINER: John O’Brien
English (US) ·