Nunes' duo fall short

The winter book favourites for the upcoming 1000 and 2000 Guineas - COME DANCE WITH ME and ALACRANN - were both beaten on their seasonal debut at Caymanas Park yesterday.

But according to their trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes, ALACRANN in particular was not disgraced in finishing a close sixth to DOUBLE THE HONEY in the overnight allowance race over 1200 metres.

Beaten by just over a length in a blanket finish, ALACRANN was installed an 8-5 favourite with champion jockey Dane Nelson aboard. However, the talented 3-y-o colt although closing rapidly in the last 200 metres, found the distance a trifle short.

"I'm very pleased with the performance", said Nunes. "This was in fact his first race since winning the Supreme Ventures Two-Year-Old Stakes last Boxing Day and he will be a lot better for it, especially over the longer distance of a mile in the 2000 Guineas on April 6.

The American bred eight-year-old horse, DOUBLE THE HONEY, made all from the number one post position, holding on grimly by a short head in the closing stages to win from the fast-finishing pair of THE GUV (9-1) and 68-1 outsider DEO VOLENTE, both finishing second in dead heat.

COME DANCE WITH ME was humbled by the Wayne DaCosta-trained ALI BABA in the third race 1300 metres, finishing 10 lengths third (eased), with Nelson up, after chasing the leader DRIPPING IN GOLD (6-1) for a long way.

ALI BABA storming through early in the straight to win by 3-3/4 lengths in the very good time of 1:18.3.