Princess Aruna crowned; Hello World makes statement

Princess Aruna and Hello World stole the show on Thursday on a competitive six-race card at Santa Rosa Park, Arima.

The feature event was The Independence Cup, a grade-one contest that saw top-class horses going over a distance of 1,800 metres turf on a good-to-firm course. When starter Wayne Campbell sent the field off, it was a level start for all six runners with filly Soca Harmony just heading her rivals.

As the horses travelled up the back stretch positions started changing rapidly with Making Headlines well tailed off. Then the pair of Lester Alexis entrants – Cool Cat and Finishing Touch – took advantage of the top positions. It was not for long as former champion rider Nobel Abrego asked the four-year-old gelding Crown Prince for an effort and he willingly obliged.

The gelding opened up a four-length gap on his rivals, but this was quickly cut into by stable-mate Princess Aruna that drew alongside Crown Prince as they turned for the judges. Then the gelding was asked for just a little more in reserve but was not able to produce as Princess Aruna prevailed by a length and three quarter at the end.

Another very interesting race on the holiday card was the curtain event in which punters saw Hello World demolish his entrants by 11 lengths, definitely stamping his authority as pre-race favourite for the Trinidad Derby to be run off September 25.

The derby will run over 2,000 metres on the main track and hopefully the first race for two year olds will be contested over 800 metres on the main course.