Nunes pleased with Diamond Mile draw
Published:Thursday | November 7, 2019 | 12:00 AMRobert Bailey/Gleaner Writer
Leading racehorse trainer Anthony ‘Baba’ Nunes is still positive about his chances of securing his first trainer’s title despite reigning champion trainer Wayne DaCosta’s strong hold in this weekend’s rich Diamond Mile race, which will be run on Saturday at Caymanas Park.
The Diamond Mile, the richest race in the English-speaking Caribbean, is being sponsored by the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission at a value of US$115,000 ($14.5 million).
Nunes currently leads DaCosta by just over $11 million in the trainer’s championships. However, with the winner of the Diamond Mile set to pocket over $6.6 million dollars in purse money and second place $2.25 million, DaCosta is poised to reduce the deficit significantly on Nunes, with the anti-post favourites STRANGER DANGER, who was yesterday drawn in gate nine and SHE’S A MANEATER who win run from Gate 10 in the race.
The third-place horse will secure $1.37 million and fourth will bring in $800,000.
In fact, both horses are among six of DaCosta’s charges that will compete in the event. The others are UNCLE FRANK, who will run from Gate Eight; DRUMMER BOY, Gate 14; SUMMER SUN, Gate One and PRINCESS ANNIE, Gate Two.
Nunes told The Gleaner during yesterday’s draw, which was held in the trainers’ room at Caymanas Park, that he is still very optimistic that he will win the trainer’s title.
A little luck
“It is vital in the sense that if we get lucky to beat those two top horses, then I think that puts us in a great position to win our first trainer’s championships,” said Nunes.
“But from when I was working out things six months ago, we had it that SHE’S A MANEATER and STRANGER DANGER will be the one-two finishers, and we would be battling it out for third, four, fifth, and sixth type of deal,” he said.
Nunes will saddle five horses in the Diamond Mile. TOONA CILIATA has been drawn in Gate Three; SUPREME SOUL, Gate Four, FAYROUZ post Six, HOUDINI’S MAGIC gate 12 and BRUCE WAYNE will run from Gate 13.
Nunes noted that he was pleased with the draw.