Seeking My Dream to repeat in Diamond Mile

The second running of the super rich Diamond Mile which offers a record purse of $13.9 million is the big feature at Caymans Park today and, with a star-studded field of 16 declared, the race should provide a real treat for racing fans.

Included in the line-up are last year's winner SEEKING MY DREAM to again be ridden by leading jockey Omar Walker for 15-time champion trainer Wayne DaCosta; the recent Superstakes hero BIGDADDYKOOL with former champion Dick Cardenas riding for trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes; FRANFIELD to be ridden by three-time champion Dane Nelson for trainer Richard Azan; as well as the top sprinter BUZZ NIGHTMARE with outgoing champion jockey Shane Ellis riding for 14-time champion trainer Philip Feanny.

The winner, from all indications, should emerge from this quartet, even though others such as PERFECT NEIGHBOUR and the American four-year-old colt BRAWN could force their way into the frame with a mile ideal.

Nunes, who trains BIGDADDYKOOL for Trinidadian owner Stephan Narinesingh, is upbeat about the chances of his leading 'Horse of the Year' contender.

"Bigdaddykool has gone from strength to strength, winning the Superstakes, St Leger and Lotto Classic while finishing second in the Derby.

"Although all those races were over two turns, he will not find a mile too short, and with his preparation on cue, I have high hopes for him," said the second-generation trainer.

'BIGDADDY' looked well at exercise Sunday morning, galloping 51/2 furlongs in 1:07.0 by 1: 00.1. He won't be that far off the pace at the half mile for a screaming run at the expected leader BUZZ NIGHTMARE approaching the distance.

SEEKING MY DREAM, the reigning 'Horse of the Year', gave the impression he would dominate racing this season, prompting DaCosta to proclaim him "the best horse in the country.... by far", having won three races in a row during the summer, including the Eros Trophy over 1400 metres in a fast time and the Prime Minister's Stakes on August 6.

SHINE LOST

But Derrick Smith's 4-y-o colt lost to BUZZ NIGHTMARE and the disqualified FRANFIELD and BIGDADDYKOOL in the November 12 Superstakes and has definitely lost some of his shine.

Even so, the 4-y-o colt by Seeking The Glory out of the 2008 'Horse of the Year' Alsafra has been nicely refreshed for this race, and with a mile more to his liking, catches my fancy as he still represents class.

FRANFIELD, who has beaten SEEKING MY DREAM twice this season, could be the biggest danger with Nelson replacing top apprentice Bebeto Harvey, and could take it down to the wire. But I like SEEKING MY DREAM to repeat.

Other firm fancies on the 14-race programme which commences as early as 10.10 a.m. are MY COMPANION in the fourth, BRAVE PROSPECT in the fifth, WARTIME in the sixth, the 2-y-o debutante KHALEESI'S REVENGE in the eighth, CHOO CHOO BLUE in the ninth and BARS OF GOLD in the 14th and final.