Patriarch takes charge as trainers battle continues

PATRIARCH bolted from the gate and made every yard of the running at five furlongs straight in yesterday’s ninth event, completing a two-timer for leading trainer Anthony Nunes.

A speedy four-year-old, who has been plagued by injuries, PATRIARCH’s job was made easier by DaCosta’s SERGEANT RECKLESS pitching at the start, leaving Nunes’ runner to dictate terms with Dane Nelson, winning easily, at odds of 6-1, beating stablemate SIR CHARLES.

Nunes, who had started the day with a $5.1m advantage, had his lead reduced in the second event as Wayne DaCosta, the reigning 18-time champion, saddled the winner, SIR ALTON, as well as third-past-the-post, EAGLE ONE, both United States-bred runners, in the second second event for two-year-olds.

However, speedy K J EXPRESS started Nunes’ response, brushing aside early leader, GOLDEN DESTINY, in the seventh, the first of back-to-back winners for leading rider, apprentice Christopher Mamdeen.

Lead restored

Nunes’ stable exacta with PATRIARCH and PRINCE CHARLES restored his stakes lead to approximately $5.6m ahead of DaCosta, who had made inroads last Saturday.

Nelson was the day’s leading rider with three winners, LAZER LIGHT, PATRIARCH and DREAMING OF ANNA, aboard whom he attacked PERFECT UNION and CRUCIAL’S TREASURE a half-mile out to literally make all in the 10th event.

Mamdeen restored his 12-win advantage ahead of six-time champion, Omar Walker, who had earlier visited the winners’ enclosure twice, astride 1-5 favourite, SIR ALTON, and MISS IN KISS in the fourth, temporarily reducing his deficit to 10 behind the apprentice.

Mamdeen’s second winner on the 10-race card was RACHEL’S GRACE, who took over from JUST TRICK ME to win the four-furlong sprint at odds of 4-1 from 3-5 favourite NEVADA.