DaCosta gets going against Nunes
Published:Sunday | January 9, 2022 | 12:14 AMAinsley Walters - Sunday Gleaner Writer
JASON DaCosta drew New Year first blood on champion trainer Anthony Nunes yesterday, EAGLE ONE turning back GO DEH GIRL in an ongoing battle of the top barns, which had taken the 2021 trainers’ stakes race down to the wire on Boxing Day.
Running with topweight 126lb at six and a half furlongs in the overnight-allowance contest, five-year-old gelding EAGLE ONE won the battle of foreign-breds against GO DEH GIRL, proving stronger than the four-year-old filly, who tried to match his speed on the lead before weakening into third place.
EL PROFESSOR came with a late charge inside the final half-furlong but Phillip Parchment kept EAGLE ONE running strong to the wire, prevailing by a neck in 1:19.3.
However, the leading trainers from last season were overshadowed by Gary Subratie, who saddled the first three winners on the 10-race card, opening the programme with a stunning 21-1 upsetter, T BRADY, followed by BLOOD FIRE (9-5) and ITIZ WHAT ITIZ (5-2).
Subratie’s run came to an end in the fourth event when 4-5 favourite K.D. ROCKET fell to CRAFTY AND READY, a chance ride for Oshane Nugent, at five furlongs round.
FOUR-TIMER DENIED
Nugent reserved the United States-bred five-year-old horse on the lead, under pressure from K. D. ROCKET, who weakened a half-furlong, denying Subratie a four-timer.
Christopher Mamdeen shared riding honours with in-form Robert Halledeen, two winners apiece. Mamdeen was aboard Subratie’s T BRADY and closed the card with CITY COUNSEL at six and a half furlongs.
Halledeen landed a quick double, MIRABILIS and VAMPIRE REJECTION, in the fifth and sixth events, maintaining the form, which saw him being drafted by Nunes to successfully defend his stakes title.
Racing continues with the season’s first Saturday-Sunday meet at the weekend.