Record-breaking WOW WOW sizzles in Super Challenge win

TRAINER Gary Subratie’s WOW WOW clocked a brilliant stakes record 1:24.4 in yesterday’s seven-furlong Pick-3 Super Challenge Trophy, lowering the 1:25.1 mark held jointly by Therealstream and Princess Popstar, who was voted 2013 Horse of the Year as a Two-Year-Old.

Now unbeaten in seven consecutive races, rebounding from a loss on debut, the Casual Trick-Sarah Barracuda colt, bid DEJAE’S BOY goodbye four and a half furlongs out before sprinting away from stablemate NIPSTER up the lane, winning by five lengths ahead of FEARLESS CHAMPION, who grabbed second almost on the line.

Ruing losing second place to FEARLESS CHAMOPION, owned by Carlton Watson, his rival in the owners’ championship, Michael Bernard of Michros, the nom de plume under which WOW WOW and NIPSTER race, afterwards bemoaned not securing a one-two finish, saying it was “foolish” to have had NIPSTER chasing his stablemate from three and a half furlongs out.

However, WOW WOW earning $1.9m from the event, NIPSTER’s third-place finish, as well as first and second place with BOLD AFLAIR and DUKE, respectively, in the sixth event, propelled Michros past Watson, who had started the day leading the stakes race.

Fitzroy Glispie’s MONEY MONSTER ran well for fourth behind WOW WOW, who is on target to sweep the Supreme Ventures Limited Two-Year-Old Series, which opened with the Cash Pot Trophy in October and culminates with the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Strakes at a mile on Boxing Day, December 26.

WOW WOW is poised to be the first winner of the million-dollar bonus offered for a sweep of the three races, the criterion being having to fall under the hammer at the annual Yearling Sale, which he did, last November.

Leading trainer Anthony Nunes’, ABOVE AND BEYOND, a record $5.1m buy at the 2018 Yearling Sale, ran a fair race for fifth place, the only filly in the event, beating five boys, establishing herself as the leading factor among the fairer sex, heading into next year’s 1000 Guineas and Oaks.

Nunes, who started the afternoon $5.7m ahead of reigning champion, Wayne DaCosta, in the trainers’ stakes race, saw his lead clipped by approximately $560,000. DaCosta dominated the Pick 3 Supreme Trophy with his big guns, the country’s two best horses, SHE’S A MANEATER and STRANGER DANGER, a repeat of their one-two finish on the Diamond Mile. However, Nunes prevented a DaCosta sweep of the six-furlong sprint, using speedy EXHILARATE to grab third, keeping his rival’s UNCLE FRANK fourth.

Nunes, who had earlier won the third event at five furlongs straight with speedy ADONIS, who completed back-to-back winners for Dane Nelson, rallied in the 10th and final event with 2-1 choice BRUCE WAYNE at six and a half furlongs, earning valuable purse to soften DaCosta’s blow.

Nunes was joined by Steven Todd and Subratie with two winners in the trainers’ row, whereas outgoing champion jockey, Anthony Thomas, and apprentice Reyan Lewis, who was astride BRUCE WAYNE, shared riding honours with Nelson.

Racing resumes this weekend with back-to-back meets, Friday and Saturday.