I Am Fred collars more-favoured stablemate

I AM FRED flipped the script in yesterday’s SVREL 6th Anniversary Trophy, storming late inside the final half-furlong to overhaul stablemate SHE’S MY DESTINY and DUKE at five and a half furlongs, winning the graded stakes-open allowance event by three-quarter length.

Returning off a two-month lay-up at odds of 8-1, United States-bred I AM FRED straightened third, behind 1-5 favourite SHE’S MY DESTINY being attacked by DUKE. I AM FRED wore down the pair late in the event for a surprise drive-by win under Roger Hewitt, who had earlier won the third event with SECRET TRAVELLER.

Out for the first time since finishing down the track in December’s Mouttet Mile, I AM FRED benefitted from torrid splits set by topweight SHE’S MY DESTINY but under pressure from DUKE enjoying a 15lb weight swing out of their last meeting at the distance.

DUKE pounced on SHE’S MY DESTINY, who fought bravely to fend off the six-year-old grey but wilted inside the final furlong. However, no sooner had DUKE poked his head in front, a wound-up I AM FRED pulled alongside the battling leaders and inched clear close to the wire.

I AM FRED closed a three-timer for champion trainer Jason DaCosta, whose tally on the 10-race card was equalled by Anthony Nunes, keeping their respective stakes gains similar. DaCosta, who ended Nunes’ three-year reign last season, started the afternoon approximately $4 million ahead in stakes.

JUBILANT LEWIS

United States-bred LION OF EKATI won the fifth event for DaCosta at decent odds of 4-1, finally coming good at a mile under jubilant Reyan Lewis. LION OF EKATI tackled JOE early in the stretch run, outstaying the brave local-bred to beat late-closing stablemate FLY MESSENGER FLY in 1:43.1.

INSPIRED MIRACLE delivered as a 1-5 chalk for DaCosta in the seventh event, closing a two-timer for Robert Halledeen, who had opened the programme with another money-back winner, TRAVELLER’S LODGE, for Christopher Pearson.

Nunes, outnumbered on the ground by DaCosta this season, continues to hold his own, landing the second event with a shock winner, G T BOY, who, similar to I AM FRED, upstaged his stablemate, 1-5 favourite LEGIT BOSS, closing strongly late under Youville Pinnock to beat AWESOME ANTHONY.

Tevin Foster closed the late double for Nunes aboard MILOS and NEFERTARI at odds of 6-1 and 2-1, respectively. MILOS rallied in the stretch run to outfinish imported FLY BLUE JET and NEFERTARI reproduced her splendid exercise form to swoop down on LACRIMAE off the home turn at seven and a half furlongs in the night pan.

Racing continues today.