Trainer Nunes bags third consecutive title

ANTHONY Nunes yesterday celebrated the defence of his trainers’ crown with GOLDEN WATTLE’s 11-1 upset victory in the $4 million Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes, putting a hotly contested title race to bed by $2.9 million on the final day of the season.

The Lion Tamer-Golden Glory filly turned the tables on the colts and geldings who had beaten her into eighth place on her third start in November’s Pick 3 Super Challenge, handing Nunes a third consecutive trainers’ stakes title.

GOLDEN WATTLE, who rebounded from a troubled trip in the Pick 3 Super Challenge to win at six furlongs on December 18, straightened fourth in the one-mile event before outfinishing PERFECT BREW and hot 2-5 favourite BRINKS.

PERFECT BREW and BRINKS made their bids at leader DEEZI three furlongs out, swinging into the lane disputing a suicidal six-furlong split of 1:12.3, as opposed to the 1:13.1 clocked in the shorter Pick 3 Super Challenge.

Having sat off the torrid splits, GOLDEN WATTLE, running with a five-pound sex allowance, proved stronger than the used-up colts, who both went down to the rail, winning by a length and three-quarter.

Robert Halledeen maintained his terrific run of form in the saddle, booting home a four-timer on the 11-race card to notch an incredible 10 winners in three meets.

Halledeen won the first two races, opening the programme with Nunes’ GENERATIONAL, aboard whom he had won on Sunday. He returned to win the second with BEAUTIFUL BRAN and the fifth astride WILL THE CONQUEROR before closing the year with speedy PATRIARCH at five furlongs straight.

The 2022 season of racing runs off on Saturday with the New Year’s Day programme.