Champion trainer John O’Brien showed why he is the best in the business when he saddled four winners including the First Citizens Gold Cup and FCB Juvenile Stakes yesterday at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, on Thursday.
When racing began, many were happy when the O’Brien-trained Headlines Again was beaten into third and last but the fire was only starting to burn.
From the second race, O’Brien and first-time champion jockey Dillon Khelawan dominated the day’s racing winning the event with Creme De La Creme, then it was the turn of the Headliner to impress before, Princess Royal came with a well-timed run to win the next before Hello World showed why he is the “Horse of the Year” by landing his ninth success in a row.
O’Brien must be given credit for enjoying a four-timer and pride of place must go to the two feature race winners Headliner and Hello World.
In the FCB Juvenile Championship, punters made Headliner the even-money favourite with the Glenn Mendez-trained Marmalade, the second favourite at 6-5. Clearly, the race was truly between them and from the off that was seen.
Headliner was travelling beautifully at the front end with Marmalade in pursuit in second and it was noticeable that at the far turn, Khelawan was coasting at the front with Marmalade seeking to close the gap.
However, that never happened and when Khelawan gave him the go-ahead to go win his race, he quickened up nicely to put the race away in impressive fashion. He was 2 1/2 lengths ahead at the line.
Another O’Brien runner, Showcase, finished third. The time recorded from Headliner was 1:25.3.
Diane Scott, the owner was happy and said, “Every day, I pray that all is well with my horse and he did it well today. He is a very good horse who will go on to better things in 2025.”
In the FCB Gold Cup, Hello World gave his rival a severe 11 1/4-length beating. Khelawan was happy to sit behind the leaders in fifth and wait until his time came to move. However, going down the back-straight he decided that the pace was too slow and sent the 2-5 favourite into the lead and from that point no one could respond. With 600 metres left, Sneaky Cheeky was in third and trying to close on the O’Brien pair of Hello World and The Goddess Nike.
At the corner, Hello World was going further away from his rivals and at the line, O’Brien landed another one-two-three when The Goddess Nike was second and Princess Aruna came from out of the clouds to get third.
O’Brien won his 21st title while Khelawan won his first and to make matters worst, The Poon Tip Stud Farm was the champion owner with Hello World winning the FCB Gold Cup.
O’Brien said, “Headliner and Hello World both won impressively and I look forward to 2025 with bated breath.”
ARC DAY 13 - BOXING DAY RESULTS
R1: FIRST CITIZENS MORE THE MERRIER LOANS MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP - 2 YO AND OVER HORSES RATED 70-55 - 1,200M - $21,429
1*(2)*Mignight Lover*T Phillips*55
2*(1)*Arsalan*RM Balgobin*54
3*(4)*Headlines Again*B Boodramsingh*53
TIME: 1:14.4 DISTANCES: Nose, 4 1/2
$1PARI: (2) $3.70
WINNER: 5 y.o.ch.g. - J’Ouvert/Kidz Ro (Lemon Drop Kid)
OWNER: Suraj Hayban TRAINER: L Alexis
BREEDER: Rajendra Maharajh
NON-RUNNER: In The Headlines
R2: FIRST CITIZENS IMMORTELLE FUND - MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP - 2 YO AND OVER HORSES RATED 30-0 - 1,100M (TURF) - $16,837
1*(5)*Creme de La Creme*D Khelawan*58
2*(2)*Soca Synergy*R Jadoo*56
3*(1)*Twitter King*A Poon*58
4*(3)*Dreamcatcher*T Phillips*56.5
TIME: 1:07.0 DISTANCES: 6 3/4, 6 1/4, Nose, 7 1/2
$1PARI: (5) $1.85
$1EXACTA: $4.90
TRIFECTA: $28.00
WINNER: 3 y.o.b.f - Crime Of Passion/Asian Princess (He’stherealthing)
OWNER: Mr Pius TRAINER: J O’Brien
BREEDER: Hugh Lee King
ALSO RAN: 5. Empress Hassan RM Balgobin 55.
R3: FIRST CITIZENS -JUVENILE CHAMPIONSHIP (GR11 R,C,G,&F) - OPEN TO WI BRED 2 YO COLTS/GELDINGS & FILLIES - $46,000
1*(5)*Headliner*D Khelawan*55.5
2*(8)*Marmalade*R Jadoo*52
3*(10)*Showtime*N ABrego*57.5
4*(9)*Valiante*J Boodramsingh*55
5*(6)*Supreme Leader*A Poon*55
TIME: 1:25.3 DISTANCES: 2 1/2, 3, 4 3/4, 8 1/2
$1PARI: (5) $2.15; $1.65; (8) $1.50; (10) $5.60
$1EXACTA: $3.40
TRIFECTA: $143.50
SUPERFECTA: $256.20
HI-5: $903.40
WINNER: 2 y.o.ch.c. - Headline News/B’S Passion (Precise Sweep)
OWNER: Diane Scott TRAINER: J O’Brien
BREEDER: Diane Scott
ALSO RAN: 6. Mulan R Balgobin ; 7. Sydney RM Balgobin 52; 8. Bourbon Blitz B Boodramsingh 55; 9. The Falcon O Mohammed 55; 10. Tsunami T Phillips 55.
NON-RUNNERS: Forever Grand, Pawan Putra.
R4: FIRST CITIZENS EVERGREEN MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP 2 YO AND OVER HORSES RATED -50-35 - 1,500M (TURF) - $16,837
1*(8)*Princess Royal*D Khelawan*58
2*(2)*Little Lady*RM Balgobin*52.5
3*(3)*Uncle Rog*B Boodramsingh*57
4*(4)*Davindra*N ABrego*57.5
5*(1)*Alpha Centauri*N Mohammed*55
TIME: 1:37.0 DISTANCES: 3/4, 3 1/4, Neck, 6 1/4
$1PARI: (8) $3.65; $1.90; (2) $2.10
$1EXACTA: $9.50
TRIFECTA: $26.00
SUPERFECTA: $80.90
WINNER: 4 y.o. ch. f. - J’Ouvert/Always A Princess (Charismatic Cat)
OWNER: Rarom Satbles TRAINER: J O’Brien
BREEDER: Rajendra Maharajh
ALSO RAN: 6. Magnifico J Boodramsingh 54; 7. Capital Tee S Sookhan 48.
R5: FIRST CITIZENS GOLD CUP (GRADE I) OPEN TO WI BRED 3 YO & OVER AND IMPORTED 2 YO & OVER - 2,000M - $86,250
1*(4)*Hello World*D Khelawan*57
2*(2)*The Goddess Nike*B Bodramsingh*53
3*(8)*Princess Aruna*RM Balgobin*54
4*(5)*Sneaky Cheeky*T Phillips*54
TIME: 2:08.2 DISTANCES: 11 3/4, 11 1/4, 1/2, 5 1/2
$1PARI: (4) $1.60; $1.30; (2) $2.80; (8) $2.45
$1EXACTA: $10.35
TRIFECTA: $98.25
SUPERFECTA: $334.90
WINNER: 4 y.o. dk. b. c. - Ten Meropa/Grand Riviere (A Great Team)
OWNER: Poon Tip Stud Farm TRAINER: J O’Brien
BREEDER: Poon Tip Stud Farm
ALSO RAN: 5. Mia’s Cat R Balgobin 54 ; 6. Striking Chrome J Boodramsingh 54; 7. Just Exhale O Mohammed 54; 8. El Chico Malo A Poon 54
R6: FIRST CITIZENS CLASSIC REWARDS MODIFIED BENCHMARK HANDICAP - 2 YO AND OVER HORSES RATED 40-25 - 1,200M - $16,837
1*(10)*Prince Connor*T Phillips*56
2*(9)*Hot Rod Kashton*R Balgobin*54.5
3*(8)*Secret Pages*RM Balgobin*54.5
4*(7)*Schwarzenegger*J ARneaud*58
5*(4)*Mona Lisa*D Khelawan*57
TIME: 1:16.1 DISTANCES: 2, Neck, 2 1/4, 1/2
$1PARI: (10) $3.25; $1.25; (9) $1.50; (8) $1.20
$1EXACTA: $49.15
TRIFECTA: $419.55
SUPERFECTA: $2,328.75
HI-5: $3,397.20
WINNER: 6 y.o. dk. b. g. - Saint Vigeur/Sherry’s Tiger (Hold That Tiger)
OWNER: Clyde Rambaran TRAINER: C Rambaran
BREEDER: Ruthven R Smith
ALSO RAN: 6. Red Alert A Poon 55; 7. Ukraine O Mohammed 55; 8. Bold And Brave R Jadoo 56; 9. Comandante N Abrego 57.5.
NON-RUNNERS: Bay View, Nuclear War.
