Miniature Man powers home in feature

FEMALE jockey Abigail Able rode a textbook race aboard Jason DaCosta’s MINIATURE MAN, last year’s 2000 Guineas winner, to close yesterday’s 10-race card after similarly opening the weekend of racing astride the leading trainer’s IANZHA LINKS on Saturday.

Breaking widest in the 14-horse field of overnight-allowance runners vying for the Caymanas Park Announcers’ Trophy at six and a half furlongs, seven-pound claimer Able sent MINIATURE MAN in chase of speedy stablemate SUPER DUPER a half-mile out.

SUPER DUPER straightened full of running with champion jockey Anthony Thomas but the filly was always suspect at the distance, eventually giving way to MINIATURE MAN, who pounced with his featherweight 111lb to win going away.

DaCosta’s exacta was spoiled by UNRULY BOSS, who closed strongly against the rail to grab second from a weakening SUPER DUPER.

Struggling to regain form after returning from a 10-month lay-up in May, almost a year after beating NUCLEAR NOON and FURTHER AND BEYOND in the 2021 Guineas, MINIATURE MAN yesterday looked his best off a two-month break, having last raced in August.

Able had her best weekend ever in the saddle, two wins in two days, registering her third win of the season with 9-2 chance MINIATURE MAN, who clocked 1:19.1 for the trip.

Meanwhile, three-time defending champion jockey Thomas, who has fallen down the pecking order in DaCosta’s high-powered barn, went winless on the card whereas his rival atop the riders’ standings, Dane Dawkins, fired off a two-timer on the programme.

Dawkins, whose lead was whittled down to one winner by Thomas entering yesterday’s meet, booted home STEP IN FAITH and ONE DON in the first and fourth races, respectively, to go three up on Thomas in his bid for a first riders’ title.

Alford Brown saddled two winners, gate-to-wire winner ALEXA’S LODGE in the seventh at six and a half furlongs, and YELLOWSTONE, who made all under a fine ride from Tevin Foster, repelling DaCosta’s United States-bred LUKSOL with Robert Halledeen at five and a half furlongs.

Action continues at the weekend with Saturday-Sunday meets to start November’s racing calendar.