Funcaandun breaks Atomica with tag-team effort

FUNCAANDUN and stablemate MAMMA MIA ganged up on ATOMICA, using their 25lb advantages to tag-team the 2022 Jamaica Derby winner in yesterday’s She’s A Maneater Trophy at a mile, completing a 1-2 finish for champion trainer Jason DaCosta.

MAMMA MIA did the hack job, ridden to the hilt from the off, keeping ATOMICA interested in splits of 24.0 and 46.0 down the backstretch before increasing to 1:11.3 coming off the home turn.

Never one to like a hurried pace, ATOMICA, who started showing signs of fatigue approaching the home turn, ducked to the rail on straightening behind full-of-running MAMMA MIA, the signal for FUNCAANDUN to rid himself of FURTHER AND BEYOND with whom he had travelled as a team.

Full of steam in mid-track entering the final furlong, FUNCAANDUN quickly went by a weakening ATOMICA, taking aim at MAMMA MIA, who had stolen a march on him at seven and a half furlongs in the July 7 Eros Trophy.

Unlike the Eros, when he had meekly accepted second behind 11-1 MAMMA MIA, FUNCAANDUN took control midway the last half-furlong to run out an easy winner at odds of 8-5, scoring by seven and three-quarters lengths in 1:39.0, closing a two-timer for lightweight rider Jordan Barrett, who earlier, had won the fourth astride STORM A COME.

FUNCAANDUN’s victory marked the American’s first in three starts since graduating from overnight-allowance company on a four-race win streak.

Though he won impressively, three-year-old IS THAT A FACT will have to prove himself with heavier weight allotments before being considered a prospect for December’s ultra-rich Mouttet Mile.

Leading rider Tevin Foster blanked challenger Raddesh Roman with a two-timer on the 10-race card, opening the card astride 8-1 outsider MATRIARCH in a $180,000 claiming scrap at three and a half furlongs.

Foster struck aboard another outsider, LION CHARMER at 11-1 in the ninth, cutting the corner behind horses at five and a half furlongs in the ninth to reel in leaders SHE’S A MIRAGE, NATURAL DANCER, and JAMES, who stayed on for second after making his bid wide off the turn.

Sitting eight clear of Roman, Foster’s two-timer bought him breathing room after his rival had made inroads on consecutive racedays to reduce his lead atop the standings.

DaCosta ‘s dominance of the trainers’ ranks continued with a two-timer capped by 5-1 chance CHOCOMO, upstaging fellow American stablemate and 3-5 favourite DIGITAL ONE in the closing event at five furlongs straight.

Patrick Lynch also saddled two winners, both outsiders, STORM A COME at odds of 7-1 against $550,000 optional claimers in the fourth and LION CHARMER.

A new month of racing opens with a three-meet Emancipendence programme, Thursday, August 1, Emancipation Day, followed by the Jamaica Oaks on Saturday, August 3, and the Jamaica Derby, Tuesday, August 6, Independence Day.