John O’Brien secures 9th Midsummer victory

When racing action was contested at Santa Rosa Park in Arima on August 1 punters witnessed a seven-race card.

The feature event on the Emancipation Day Holiday was the second leg of the local triple crown that was sponsored by Phvethosp VS Limited (PETS’ HAVEN) Midsummer Classic which was open to West Indian Bred three year olds that went over the distance of 1,800 metres on the turf course which had been labelled as soft and good to soft in places that made the stewards remove races three and five from the turf.

When the field of eight runners was sent by starter Wayne Campbell at approximately 5.50 pm after favourite Headlines Again got away from the handlers and had to be withdrawn by the vet, Hot Rod Kashton; Red Alert; Unbelievable; and Forever Grand all pulled to the front.

Passing in front of the winning line for the first time Forever Grand took command and led the field up the backstretch with Unbelieveable, Secret Pages and Hot Rod Kashton in that order. As the pace started to quicken filly Unbelievable joined Forever Grand racing as a pair going up the backstretch with Hot Rod Kashton, Secret Pages and Red Alert battling for minor placings and Guineas winner Uncle Rog well out of it.

As the pair of Forever Grand and Unbelievable approached the 600m mark filly Unbelievable had a narrow advantage over Forever Grand. With the two fillies approaching 400m from home Forever Grand drew alongside Unbelievable once again making it an interesting match race between the fillies.

As the pair set sail for the judges Nela Mohammed asked Forever Grand for just a little more effort and she willingly obliged kicking clear by one and three quarter lengths.

Jockey Nela Mohammed had three winners on the day’s progamme with Dillon Khelawan and apprentice Tristan Phillips booting home two wins apiece. While in the trainers column John O’Brien, Ramesh Ramroop and Clyde Rambaran saddled two winners and trainer Lester Alexis with just one winner on the day.

Racing action will resume on August 31 with the running of the Independence Cup that will be contested over 1,800m on the turf and will be open to all horses three-year-olds and over.