Attained by Sudden Flight
DaCosta back atop stakes in spite of Nunes feature success
Published:Sunday | April 10, 2022 | 12:16 AMAinsley Walters - Sunday Gleaner Writer
CHAMPION trainer Anthony Nunes landed yesterday’s Farriers’ Association feature event with 1-2 favourite, SUPREME SONG, but his nemesis, Jason DaCosta, forced his way back atop the stakes standings, combining with Anthony Thomas and top owner Carlton Watson for a trainer-jockey-owner three-timer.
Nunes, who sealed a third consecutive title last season, thwarting a determined bid by DaCosta, had narrowly moved to the top of the stakes table last weekend, inching $123,535 ahead of his rival.
However, DaCosta, whose late father Nunes had dethroned in 2019 to win his first title, responded with a stinging three-timer on the 10-race card honouring farriers, signalling another battle for this season’s crown.
DaCosta used Watson’s down-in-class SUDDEN FLIGHT, plus the champion owner’s two United States-bred runners, DOUBLE DIVA and debutante MADELYN’S SUNSHINE, who outclassed local-breds in their respective races, to force his way back atop the earnings.
Speedy four-year-old filly, DOUBLE DIVA, returned off a seven-month lay-up to outsprint local three-year-old colt, POWER RANKING, clocking 58.1 at five furlongs straight for an impressive eight-length win as the 1-5 favourite.
SUDDEN FLIGHT, an even more prohibitive favourite, was unchallenged in a 10-length win at four and a half furlongs straight, setting a track record, 53.3 at the relatively new distance.
GOOD SPEED
MADELYN’S SUNSHINE, a three-year-old filly, showed good speed on her first outing to turn back local-bred colt, PERFECT BREW, the 3-5 favourite, who was safely held by a length and a half, despite being ridden flat out by Robert Halledeen.
The quick foreigner won at odds of 4-1, clocking 1:00.3 at five furlongs round, ahead of PERFECT BREW, who was making his second start as a three-year-old after a fifth-place finish in last month’s Sir Howard Stakes.
Meanwhile, champion jockey Thomas, who started the day nine behind Dane Nelson and Dane Dawkins, rode a fourth winner on the programme, 21-length maiden winner, QUANNA, taking his tally to 21 wins.
Nelson edged one win ahead of Dawkins with whom he had started the day level on 26, easily winning the opening event aboard OMRON, the overwhelming favourite.
Racing continues over the Easter holiday weekend with three consecutive meets, Saturday, Sunday and Easter Monday.