The Guru

THE FEED problem experienced by horsemen over the past two weeks has been corrected as feed producers National Flour Mills (NFM) have received a supply of molasses and has started distributing to horsemen at Santa Rosa Park and the various stud farms.

A shortage of molasses caused NFM to stop the supply of feed to the paddock at Santa Rosa and farms throughout the country.

"We are very sorry what happened. The horsemen were definitely affected. We asked them to sympathise, because of what happened," said NFM communications officer Kevon Fields yesterday.

"Feed is now back to normal. We did some deliveries over the weekend. We do not do deliveries on a weekend, but because of good customer relationships we did it and they were very understanding. One thing we made sure, we kept the communication line open and did not leave them in the wilderness, and they stuck with us. No damage was done."

"The supplier of the molasses has assured us this would not happen again," Fields added. "As of now we have one supplier, as this problem propped up we are looking at an alternative, as a back-up, should this problem occur, but it will not prop up again."

Due to the severe shortage of horse feed, NFM was asked to supply "dry feed" without molasses to the paddock, so that horses would not starve.

NFM complied and the action assisted trainers, who bought molasses locally at very exhorbitant prices to mix with the feed.

Since the feed shortage, two two-year-olds have died from colic, although it has not been confirmed that those deaths are related to the shortage.

Although the feed situation has returned to normal, the lack of supply for close to ten days and the dry spell, which started in January, seem to have had an effect on this week's card at Santa Rosa, with only 66 horses being entered for the eight races.

Only one race, the curtain event, crossed double figures with 13 entries.

The feature event is the second race, the 1,100-metre contest for three-year-olds and over rated 90-70 on the turf. This race attracted six runners with King Whistler, a beaten favourite last Saturday over 1,350 metres, reverting to a shorter trip.

Meanwhile, racing suffered another loss on Tuesday when top horseman Shaffique "Gigs" Mohammed passed away in New York, joining a number of horsemen, including owners, breeders, a veterinarian, and trainer and groom, who have died over the past two weeks.

Mohammed was a former tutor of the Jockeys School in Marabella, and after the closure of the school he departed to the USA where he worked as an exercise rider for some of the top racing stables.

Mohammed's body will be flown to Trinidad for the funeral service, a date or time for the funeral has yet to be confirmed by his family.

Today, the funeral service for Triple Crown owner/breeder Wilma Primus, who died last Friday, will be held at St Finbar's RC Church, Morne Coco Road, Diego Martin, from 10 a.m.

Here are the declared runners, jockeys, weights and post-positions for the eight races:

RACE 1--1.00--3 Y.O. & OVER HORSES RATED 60-55--1,750 Metres--$40,000--1. Fleet Admiral 57 W. Galviz; 2. Sam's Selection 51.5 E. Ramsammy; 3. Heidi's Tzippi 50 P. Badrie; 4. Edmundo 57 R. Hernandez; 5. Burst Of Energy 57 S. Chadee; 6. Sweetie Jan 54.5 R. Jadoo; 7. Lady Angelica 55.5 B. Boodramsingh.

RACE 2--1.35--3 Y.O. & OVER HORSES RATED 90-70--1,100 Metres--$50,000--1. Rewardsinheaven 57 D. Gopie; 2. Officer Ike 52.5 R. Jadoo; 3. King Whistler 55.5 W. Galviz; 4. Blackstone Street 53 N. Flavenney; 5. Quick City 49 D. Gopie; 6. Intact 55.5 E. Ramsammy.

RACE 3--2.11--WI-BRED 3 Y.O. MAIDENS--1,100 Metres (TURF)--$43,000--1. Against The Odds 57 E. Ramsammy; 2. Measured Response 54 K. Balgobin; 3. Bold Destiny 56 K. Khelawan; 4. Diamond Queen 53 P. Badrie; 5. Advantage Them 53 R. Hernandez; 6. Unguarded Moment 50.5 N. Patrick; 7. Caisse 56 R. Hasranah.

RACE 4--2.45--WI-BRED 4 Y.O. & OVER MAIDENS--1,600 Metres (TURF)--$32,000--1. Le Cheraux Dansur 57 N. Chadee; 2. Casino Host 54.5 K. Balgobin; 3. Captain Chally 52 R. Hasranah; 4. Sparkling Silver 50.5 K. Khelawan; 5. Royal Banker 54.5 S. Samuel; 6. Rest Assured 54 P. Badrie; 7. Herald Angel 54.5 R. Jadoo; 8. Young Dinaro 49.5 N. Flavenney.

RACE 5--3.25--3 Y.O & OVER HORSES RATED 40-0--1.750 Metres--$32,000--1. Precious Diamond 53.5 N. Flavenney; 2. Danzig's Day 52.5 N. Vargas; 3. Seal The Deal 56 D. Butcher; 4. The Conqueror 50.5 F. Manrrique; 5. Sweet Parang Music 44 R. Hasranah; 6. Prado's Princess 57 R. Ali; 7. On My Own 51.5 S. Samuel; 8. Thisisit 55.5 E. Ramsammy.

RACE 6--4.03--3 Y.O. & OVER HORSES RATED 45-0--1,100 Metres (TURF)--$33,000--1. Zipitup 51.5 P. Badrie; 2. Agra 56 G. Laban; 3. Prados Wells 56 E. Ramsammy; 4. Precise Rule 56.5 D. Khelawan; 5. Who Is The Problem 57 R. Hernandez; 6. Love In Tokyo 41 K. Balgobin; 7. Star Diamond 57 N. Flavenney; 8. Wildwildwes 57 N. Abrego; 9. Riches Abound 57 S. Rodrigo.

RACE 7--4.40--3 Y.O. & OVER HORSES RATED 70-55--1,100 Metres (TURF)--$43,000--1. Oro De Cordoba 53 B. Boodramsingh; 2. Undulation 53 E. Ramsammy; 3. Away Johannesburg 57 R. Thomas; 4. Golden Enchantment 55.5 D. Khelawan; 5. Tiger's Shadow 52 N. Flavenney; 6. Grand Slam 51.5 P. Badrie; 7. Golden Flight 54 N. Vargas; 8. Immortal Flame 55.5 D. Butcher.

RACE 8--5.20--3 Y.O. & OVER HORSES RATED 55-40--1,200 Metres--$36,400--1. A Great Moment 52.5 W. Galviz; 2. Pacman 57 S. Rodrigo; 3. Painted Buddha 53.5 R. Hernandez; 4. Lady Marisa 53.5 R. Ali; 5. Lady Sage 55 L. Lopez; 6. My Ari 57 S. Samuel; 7. Really Classy 56.5 D. Butcher; 8. D'Last Flight 56 G. Laban; 9. Fearghas 54.5 N. Flavenney; 10. Super Sonic 55.5 K. Balgobin; 11. Classic Material 56 E. Ramsammy; 12. Asia 52.5 N. Samaroo; 13. Best Defence 52 D. Khelawan.