BLACKSTONE STREET brought the small Santa Rosa Park crowd to life with a thrilling stretch run that brought him within 1/5 of a second of the 1,200-metre track record held by two-time Horse of the Year Sugar Mike and Asmira 1:10.2, to nail the pacesetting Sweet Alex on the shadow of the finish line in yesterday’s 1,200-metre Stewards Cup at Santa Rosa Park, Arima.
The evens favourite trained by Glenn Mendez and ridden by Calder-based Wilmer Galviz for owners Peter Acham and Lalman Rajcoomar, scored by a half length from Sweet Alex, Cactus Amour and Mister Kingston in a fast 1:10.3 to take the $150,000 first prize in the 14-horse showpiece.
Yesterday’s success was Blackstone Street’s sixth success from eight starts. And the Grade One victory now makes him the leading contender for the Horse of the Year title. At the same time, it also set up a mouth watering clash with Republic Bank Derby winner, Bruceontheloose in the 2,000-metre Gold Cup on Boxing Day, December 26.
After the race, the Express spoke with co-owner Acham, who was in very good spirits after the success of the son of Belmont Stakes winner Victory Gallop.
’The performance was exceptional,’ Acham exclaimed.
 ’This success means a lot for us. He displayed his versatility with an excellent run. He is really bred for distance, but his trainer Mendez and groom Denny Rampersad and Galviz did a magnificent job. Our hats off to them.’
However, asked to comment on who will ride ’Street’ in the Gold Cup since Galviz is committed to Bruceontheloose, Acham answered: ’When time comes we will deal with it’.
Leaving the start, Sweet Alex led the pack with Summer Cactus in pursuit, the rest of the field already under the pump to keep in touch. At the halfway stage, it appeared that Sweet Alex was on course to make amends for his two previous Stewards Cup flops. But making an eye-catching move on the outside of the field was the dark green orange silks of Blackstone Street, emerging and giving chase. This pair separated themselves from the field but Sweet Alex still held the advantage and was not stopping.
And a repeat of the Stewards Cup prep in which Sweet Alex held his field prisoners seemed to be unfolding only this time around, Sweet Alex looked set for success under Nela Mohammed.
However, Galviz’s overseas experience came to the fore as he cajoled his mount who responded gamely under his urging to lead when it mattered most--at the line--to bring relief to Blackstone Street’s fans, distinct in the crowd with their black hats and shirts.
 They were jubilant as the colt was led into the winner’s enclosure and the party continued.
Blackstone Street’s excellent performance overshadowed the riding and training feat of Mendez, who saddled four winners on the day, including the Stewards Cup winner.
The ’fete’ started with imported juvenile maiden High Mas in the third race, followed by Powerball (sixth), Blackstone Street (seventh) and Tutankhamun in the nightcap.
And young Barbadian apprentice Jalon Samuel, who scored on Juanistheman last raceday for owner Allan Madoo and trainer Lester Alexis, continued his fine riding with a four-timer on the eight-race card.
He started with the Alexis/Madoo combination of Salute The Colours in the fourth race, Juanistheman (Alexis/Madoo) in the fifth, Powerball (Mendez/Madoo) and Tutankhamun (Samuel/Mendez) in the curtain event.
In the day’s opener, the Union Park Turf Club sold juveniles, Princess Indra and Misshighoctane dominated the proceedings with Princess Indra with Richard Perez scoring by five lengths.
Racing action takes a break this Saturday because of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad.
However, the end of season programme continues on December 5 with the staging of the 1,350-metre St Ann’s and St James Stakes for locally bred two-year-olds.
