The Lester Alexis trained Cool Cat was the star on the first day of the Arima Race Club (ARC) 2022 racing season. Cool Cat scored an upset but impressively victory in the feature event, the Grade Three - Sian's Gold Sprint over 1100 metres on the Turf Course at Santa Rosa Park, Arima on Saturday.
Punters made the Victor Prescott owned six-year-old a 9-1 betting choice to win the first Graded Event of the new season and he won like a 1-5 favourite in the process.
With 500 metres left to race, Nigel Flaveeny sent Lady Bird for home and she opened a three-length lead on Superbird as Early Bird began came under pressure as Cool Cat was asked to close by Keiran Razack. However, once Coming to the corner Razack moved Cool Cat off the rail to mount his challenge between the two birds and the rest is history as he easily readily pulled clear of his rivals as Superbird and Lady Bird fought out a good battle for second.
Razack celebrated a long way from the line, as the son of Charismatic Cat/Dream Girl cruised to the 2 1/2 length success in the time of 1:04.4.
Riding honours for the day fell to Ronald Ali who rode a double for trainer Michael Lutchman. Lutchman saddled Atta Girl Silvy and Leave Me Alone.
Here are The Opening Day REFLECTIONS:
R1:
Great Heart - Broke well, tracked leader until assuming control 800 metres out. Sent for home 400 metres out and quickened clear 300 out. Ran on well. Will win again and again.
Prince Connor - Close up, always tracking winner, challenged 500 metres out, not able to keep pace with winner but stayed on.
Twitter King - Well away, chasing leaders, every chance corner, unable to quicken final 200 metres.
Racing Patriot - Mid-pack early, improved 600 metres out, unable to close final 200 metres.
R2:
Star of Wonder - Close up and going well, taken back down the back-straight, asked to close 600 metres out and going well, picked it up 500 metres out and ran on strongly to the line. Good effort.
Fast N Furious - Always close up and in touch, ridden to challenge 500 metres out, ran on.
Sunset Cloud - Always in the van, challenging for the lead 800 metres out, every chance corner, stayed on.
Golden D'or - Broke slowly, Headway 800 metres out, every chance 500 metres out one-paced thereafter. will be better for the run.
R3:
Coup D'etat - Well away and in touch, closed on the leader 600 metres out, ridden to challenge 500 metres out and led corner, stayed on well.
CP Jet - In touch and close up early, held every chance at the corner, stayed on strongly.
Nuclear Fire - Led and going well, pressed from far turn, headed corner stayed on.
Unsettled - Mid-division early, tracked the pace and every chance corner ran on.
R4:
Atta Girl Silvy - Well ridden, broke well and tracked the pace, asked to close far turn, challenged corner and going well, ran on strongly for an impressive success.
Unsettled Heart - Always in the van and going well, sneaked through on the inside and held every chance, could not peg back the winner.
Gold For John - In touch and going well, challenged 500 metres out, every chance unable to quicken final 200 metres.
El Chapo -- Close up and going well, every chance corner, unable to quicken final 200 metres.
Schwarzenegger - Close up and hunting the pacesetters, going well and challenged 600 metres out, unable to quicken final 200 metres.
R5:
With Honors - Well away, ridden confidently, pressed 500 metres out, quicken 30o metres from home and ran on well. Can go in again.
Why Kapalua - Close up and challenging for the lead, pressed strongly corner, unable to match the winner's pace.
Price Alert - Broke well and was in touch, going well and challenged 500 metres out but the winner had too many guns for them.
Cactus Treasure - In touch, effort to close 500 metres out, stayed on without threatening the principals.
R6:
Cool Cat - Well away, saved ground on the rail up the back, close quickly between the 600 metres and 400 metres marker, challenged between horses 400 metres out, led 300 metres out and ran of well. won stylishly.
Superbird - Well away and going well. Tracked the pace until challenging at the corner, every chance 300 metres out, outrun to the line by winner.
Lady Bird - Well away and going well, clear entering straight, every chance 300 metres outstayed on.
Signal Note - behind early, effort to close far turn, unable to get to the first three.
R7:
Leave Me Alone - Mid-division early closed coming to the far turn, every chance corner when sent in chase of the leaders, ran on well final 200 metres to master runner-up close home.
Marconi - In touch and going well, challenged for lead 500 metres outstayed on well.
Davinci Code - Mid-division early, effort to close 500 metres out, ran on.
Finishing Touch - Well away, in touch and going well, every chance corner stayed on.
Marvel Vigor - Broke smartly, claimed the lead early, led and went well, was challenged at the corner but weakened final `100 metres. Will regain the winning thread soon.