Speedy England’s Rose delivers DaCosta hat-trick
WAYNE DaCosta brought down the curtains on yesterday’s nine-race card with a hat-trick, closed by speedy ENGLAND’S ROSE, who made all at five furlongs round to beat United States-bred EROY by a length and a quarter.
ENGLAND’S ROSE completed a two-timer for co-champion rider, Anthony Thomas, back in the saddle for the first day since taken out by a stomach bug for the last two meets of 2020.
Thomas, who had earlier won the second event with 2-1 chance PURPLE WAYNE at a mile, broke ENGLAND’S ROSE in front and made every post a winning one with the four-year-old filly, stopping the clock in 59.2.
EROY was no match, racing third at the off, behind CORAZON, unable to match ENGLAND’S ROSE’s torrid opening splits of 22.2.
Ridden off the home turn by Omar Walker, EROY was left for dead as ENGLAND’S ROSE soared past the furlong pole in a half-mile split of 45.3, holding a three-length advantage, which the foreigner whittled down close to the wire.
DaCosta, dethroned by Anthony Nunes as champion trainer in 2019, after winning the title for 13 consecutive years, handed female apprentice Abigail Able a rare winner astride 2-1 shot CASUAL AFFAIR in the seventh event at five furlongs straight.
The 18-time champion trainer followed up with THREE TIMES LUCKY in the eighth at odds of 6-5, Javaniel Patterson booting home the three-year-old filly by a length and a quarter, at seven furlongs, ahead of 10-1 outsider, HILLY’S VISION.
Champion apprentice Oshane Nugent maintained his good form, riding two winners, CUP A SOUP in the fourth and LAVA BOY in the sixth event.
Racing at Caymamas Park takes a six-day break, resuming on Saturday.