Funcaandun completes successful tag-team win for daCosta

JASON DACOSTA’S tag team yesterday pulled off a second relay job on ATOMICA, MAMMA MIA playing rabbit for six furlongs before United States-bred stablemate FUNCAANDUN pounced on the 2022 Jamaica Derby winner coming off the turn in the Distinctly Irish Trophy at nine furlongs and 25 yards.

Burdened under topweight 126lb for consecutive trophy races after being similarly ambushed by DaCosta’s pair in the July 27 She’s A Maneater Trophy at a mile, ATOMICA bravely tried rallying against three-year-old FUNCAANDUN, who, though running 17lb heavier, again proved too strong for the five-year-old local-bred mare.

Ridden out by leading jock Tevin Foster, FUNCAANDUN lengthened his strides a half-furlong out when ATOMICA appeared to stage a brief rally from along the rail to which she had ducked after straightening just the leader ahead of the imported colt.

FUNCAANDUN pulled off to win by two and a quarter lengths under leading rider Tevin Foster, clocking 1:55.3 for his sixth win from eight starts, a vast improvement on the 1:57.2 in which he was beaten by RHYTHM BUZZ when attempting the route trip for the first time on June 15.

ATOMICA proved second-best, a dozen lengths clear of FURTHER AND BEYOND, beaten again by the handicaps and a powerhouse barn employing a rabbit.

Raddesh Roman rode a three-timer on the nine-race card to reduce Foster’s lead atop the jockeys’ standings to three, opening the programme astride 2-1 chance LORD OF AJAHLON in a driving finish at five and a half furlongs, beating 35-1 outsider STICKY DON by a nose in the $400,00 event for optional claimers.

Roman returned in the third to produce 9-5 chance SALUD with a late burst at five furlongs round, mowing down RHOSA THE WARRIOR in the event for five-year-olds and upwards, non-winners of three races.

The title-chasing rider showed off his skills in the eighth astride 3-2 favourite NORBLAR, rousing the four-year-old colt to overhaul 25-1 stunner BENSON close home. BENSON, who audaciously tried to make all, lost second at the wire to fast-closing 99-1 outsider, WHIZZ KID, with Aaron Chatrie astride.

Oneil Mullings and Paul Francis rode two-timers. Francis won aboard outsiders GENERATIONAL and AWESOME LINE, at odds of 10-1 and 8-1, respectively. Mullings booted home AMAD ALI at 5-1 in the seventh before closing the card astride 2-1 chance FIRECRACKER.

August’s month of racing closes next Saturday.