BIGDADDYKOOL ready for Superstakes test - Nunes

Anthony 'Baba' Nunes' three year-old colt, BIGDADDYKOOL, announced his arrival on the big stage earlier this year, when he captured the Lotto Classics for the Governor's Cup in May.

A month later the young horse was second in the Jamaican derby after an exciting battle to the wire with FUTURE KING for Jamaica's most prized race, although both horses ended up being disqualified.

However, despite taking on some of the best thoroughbreds on the local circuit, in the Lotto Classics, such as ORPHEUS and JAMAI RAJA, and horses like FUTURE KING in the derby, the three year-old colt will face his toughest test to date when he lines up for the Superstakes, against defending champion FRANFIELD, reigning horse of the year SEEKING MY DREAM, PERFECT NEIGHBOUR, PHINEAS, A THOUSAND STARS, JAMAI RAJA among others, this weekend at Caymanas Park.

Veteran trainer, Nunes, is confident the young horse has what it takes to win the $1 million purse on Saturday.

"It is the first time he (BIGDADDYKOOL) is going to run against the top A class older horses like SEEKING MY DREAM and PERFECT NEIGHBOUR, and so it's left to be seen if he can manage them. But I am pretty confident in him, he's a really nice colt and he certainly stays the trip and he has mature extremely nicely since the St Leger. We have high hopes for him," Nunes told The Gleaner.

Nunes' biggest concern is that his main contender has not raced in over two months and he thinks this could have an effect on the outcome, but nevertheless remains very optimistic of his chances.

"He has trained well, I can't be happier. I would have preferred if he had gotten a prep race but he had 'stone' squeeze about four weeks ago so we ended up missing the Governor Cup, which would have been our prep race. So it has been ten weeks, two and a half months between races.

"But he has trained nicely and I thing he can overcome it (A class, older horses). In my mind you are always going to have question marks until the race runs. But ideally I would love to have a race four weeks before but it didn't happen and that is how it is in horse racing sometimes, things don't work out the way you plan. But as far as me preparing him for this race with that in mind I have no complaints," he said.

Nunes has won the event on three occasions and would love a fourth, he also wants to give Trinidadian owner Stephen Narinesingh his first Superstakes win.

- L.S.