The Rolf Bartolo owned and trained four-year-old brown filly Rio Ponti put favourite Cool Cat in his place within the feature Modified Benchmark Handicap for Horses Rated 70-55 on the turf track at Santa Rosa Park, Arima on Thursday.
The feature event on the Arima Race Club (ARC) Day 5 presentation saw Rio Ponti playing mas in Arima with Cool Cat and the rest of the field.
Sent off as the 2-1 second favourite in the field of eight Ronald Ali had the Bartolo trained filly prompting the pace which was being set be Khaleesi from the onset.
As the horses went around the first turn Khaleezi held the advantage from Rio Ponti with Overanalyzation in third, these were followed by Integrity and Cool Cat with Mafia Man three lengths further back with Sea of Gdanzk while Reggae Rhythm was contented to observe from the rear.
Going down the back-straight Khaleezi led but only just as Rio Ponti and Ali looked poised to strike at any time, as Overanalyzation kept pace in third as Cool Cat joined issue with Integrity for fourth.
At the far turn, Khalezzi and Rio Ponti could not be separated as Cool Cat moved into third some three to four lengths of the duelling leaders, as Overanalyzation was being driven to keep pace, along with Integrity as Mafia Man began his run at the leaders.
At the corner, Ali asked Rio Ponti to go win her race and she quickened up in style to pull two lengths clear of Khallezi as Cool Cat began to run on with some purpose. Overanalyzation was plugging on as Mafia Man moved forward with his run.
Inside the final 200 metres, Rio Ponti and Ali were clearly, The King of The Bands" as they raced away by three lengths to put the race to bed. At the end, Rio Ponti was eased down to win by two lengths from Cool Cat with Khaleezi back in third.
Mafia Man ran on well to get fourth and his turn looks close.
Rio Ponti registered the time of 1:31.2 for his Carnival Jump up.
Cool Cat will be one of three horses from the John O'Brien barn travelling to Barbados for the Sandy Lane Gold Cup day on March 7.
Riding honours for the day were shared between Ronald Ali and to apprentice Kimal Santo who both landed two winners.
Training honour for the day fell to Rolf Bartolo who saddled two winners in Rio Ponti and Simon Peter.