No stopping daCosta's She's A Maneater
Published:Friday | April 20, 2018 | 12:00 AMAinsley Walters/Gleaner Writer
AFTER two clashes at the back end of last season, one a runaway win and the other a thrilling finish, the filly SHE'S A MANEATER and BIGDADDYKOOL resume their rivalry in Saturday's 1820-metre Legal Light Trophy.
The classy runners last met in December's Diamond Mile, which Wayne DaCosta's SHE'S A MANEATER easily won with the distance and weight-for-age handicaps in her favour. However, it was much closer in the 10-furlong Superstakes, three weeks earlier, when the distance suited a very brave BIGDADDYKOOL, who suffered a two-length loss while allowing the Triple Crown winner 10lb.
The handicappers swung their axe and have levelled the weight between the now four-year-old filly and five-year-old BIGDADDYKOOL, even ditching the normal sex allowance, making the Legal Light Trophy the most favourable in three meetings for the gelding.
Trainer Anthony Nunes has dug into his bag of tricks, coming up with blinkers, which he hopes will keep BIGDADDYKOOL more attentive than the cheek pieces, which he has discarded. He has been training the gelding in the equipment every morning and must be happy with the results to have made the change.
A warm pace is expected, especially with Robert Pearson's WILL IN CHARGE, who used 109lb and 110lb to beat topweight BIGDADDYKOOL in consecutive 10-furlong races last August and September. The five-year-old has trained really well for his return and should run well with 119lb, getting seven pounds from the two stars.
HOUDINI'S MAGIC, BIGDADDYKOOL's stablemate, will run with approximately 111lb. That is 15lb lighter than the top two. Receiving 12lb from BIGDADDYKOOL in December's Harry Jackson, HOUDINI'S MAGIC kept his stablemate honest for the entire 12 furlongs.
Despite reverting to BIGDADDYKOOL's backyard, SHE'S A MANEATER is such a pro that she must be given the benefit of the doubt, especially with her being in what should be the peak year of a racehorse, age four to four and a half.
Though picking up 10lb, SHE'S A MANEATER proved in the Diamond Mile that she is able to stalk and pounce with deadly effect. The super filly clocked 1:36.4, the fastest mile since her stablemate, SEEKING MY DREAM, twice won the event in 1:36.2.