DaCosta hopes to play catch up with three-timer

STARTING THE weekend $2.32 million behind leader Gary Subratie, whose out-of-class American, DESERT OF MALIBU, spotted the field a dozen lengths before mowing down MADELYN’S SUNSHINE in last Saturday’s St Catherine Cup, Jason DaCosta has eyes on a three-timer – FUNCAANDUN, ROSETTA, and SHE’S A MIRAGE – which could wipe out the deficit if all goes according to plan.

Lagging behind Subratie and Nunes, champion trainer DaCosta looks all set to get his act together this Saturday, hilariously debuting a smart-looking United States-bred three-year-old colt, FUNCAANDUN, who could help him land him a three-timer, ending his rivals’ fun at the weekend.

DaCosta easily secured back-to-back titles in 2021 and ’22, narrowly missing the 2020 crown after taking over his late father’s barn in the first quarter of the season.

Solid support from champion owner Carlton Watson and his owner-breeder mother, Elizabeth, maintained DaCosta’s momentum after his near miss, dominating successive seasons.

Similar to most DaCosta importees, FUNCAANDUN has been blazing a hot trail at exercise, ripping 1:07.0 for five and a half furlongs last Saturday morning. The previous week, the Klimt-Fiftyshadesoffun colt clocked 1:00.1 from the gate, hinting that he is no ordinary debutant.

Though facing two native-bred winners, stablemate LUCY IN THE SKY and Steven Todd’s OH SO SMART, FUNCAANDUN’s exercise reports suggest that he is head and shoulders above the locals and four importees he will line up with in the Rimsky Trophy at six furlongs.

DaCosta’s ROSETTA might have thrown in a clinker last out, finishing last in the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes won by stablemate INTERISTNTIMESAHEAD. However, the Bold Conquest-Khadiliah runner returns in a fillies-only maiden special with two second-place finishes against colts under her girth, beaten by no more than a length on either occasion.

ROSETTA’s main threat should be Ian Parsard’s TEE OFF, Sensational Slam-Indian Bluff, a half-sister to Jamaica Derby runner-up BRINKS.

TEE OFF showed speed on her November 19 debut at seven furlongs, still strong inside the last, before BUTTERCUP, BLUE SENSATION, and MATUSO relegated her to fourth.

However, ROSETTA appears to be quite versatile, a runner-up at six furlongs and a mile in back-to-back races since treated with Lasix, suggesting that she should get the better of her peers at six furlongs.

SHE’S A MIRAGE could be DaCosta’s longest shot of the day after finishing last on Boxing Day at six furlongs with Reyan Lewis. Throw that run out the window while noting the filly’s previous effort, third behind EXOTIC LIGHT and return-winner CITY HAWK on December 9.

DaCosta has summoned one of his late father’s favourite journeyman riders, Charlton Riley, for the coup de grace aboard SHE’S A MIRAGE in the nightpan for non-winners of two races at five and a half furlongs.