Houdini’s Magic dominates at Caymanas

LEADING trainer Anthony Nunes’ HOUDINI’S MAGIC easily won yesterday’s open allowance event at Caymanas Park, going past DRUMMER BOY on the final turn and sprinting clear to outclass UNCLE FRANK and SARATOGA SIGHT by four lengths.

HOUDINI’S MAGIC’s victory pushed Nunes close to $12.5M clear of 17-time champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, halfway through the season, three weeks ahead of the Jamaica Derby for which his 2000 Guineas and Governor’s Cup winner, SUPREME SOUL, is the howling favourite.

Down in class after finishing fourth behind the country’s top handicappers in the May 18 Legal Light Trophy at nine furlongs and 25 yards, HOUDINI’S MAGIC defied topweight 126lb to effortlessly cut into DRUMMER BOY’s lead in the eight and a half furlong event.

Saratoga off pace

Even-money favourite SARATOGA SIGHT, normally a strong galloper on the lead, was kept off the pace in third down the backstretch by leading rider Christopher Mamdeen, allowing Shane Ellis on HOUDINI’S MAGIC the breathing room he needed to attack DRUMMER BOY unmolested.

HOUDINI’S MAGIC was long gone when SARATOGA SIGHT improved into second, coming off the turn with UNCLE FRANK hot on his heels. UNCLE FRANK eventually inched ahead at the wire to win the battle for second.

HOUDINI’S MAGIC, whose most famous victory was at yesterday’s distance in last year’s Viceroy Trophy, defeating a crack grade one field, including WILL IN CHARGE, BIGDADDYKOOL, and SHE’S A MANEATER, who had stumbled badly at the start, again showed his love for the mile chute, clocking 1:44.3 for the trip.

Meanwhile, apprentice Reyan Lewis rode two winners, DEE DANGER and MAMASHARONDARLING, in the second and fourth races, respectively, improving his tally to 39 wins, seven behind Mamdeen, whose lone victory on the 10-race card was CRIMSON in the third event.