Take Fearless Champion in Mattis Mem.

ANOTHER Nunes-DaCosta showdown looms in Wednesday’s Kenneth Mattis Memorial following SANTORINI’s upset of BILLY WHIZZ in last Saturday’s Winston ‘Fanna’ Griffths Classic.

Nunes, hell-bent on a second defence of the crown he spent almost a decade trying to wrest from the late Wayne DaCosta, who ruled the roost for 14 consecutive years, has sprinted $2 million clear of Gary Subratie atop the trainers’ stakes standings.

However, Jason DaCosta, who inherited his father’s arsenal after the first quarter of the season, sits $5 million behind the leader, and climbing, with sights dead set on Nunes’ lead. The powerhouse barns account for a half of the field in the Mattis Memorial with game plans hatched.

Nunes has two runners who will be in the early fracas – LET HIM FLY and LEGALITY – whereas DaCosta’s charges, HOVER CRAFT, UNCLE FRANK, and FEARLESS CHAMPION, will be making bids from off the pace.

In what is set to be a true pace from start to finish, key runners such as ROY ROGERS, MONEY MONSTER, and MARQUESAS are set to complicate matters for the feuding barns.

LET HIM FLY could possibly try carrying the pace for topweight LEGALITY to sit just off, awaiting FEARLESS CHAMPION’s move. However, ROY ROGERS and MARQUESAS, who has especially been working well, though reporting off a lay-up, could force LEGALITY off his bridle early after getting rid of up-two-classes LET HIM FLY.

LEGALITY ran a big race with topweight 126lb for second behind fast-time winner EROY at the trip on July 12 but hasn’t lived up to that run in two subsequent efforts whereas EROY returned to frank his form with a follow-up win.

DaCosta’s HOVER CRAFT is the real deal at the trip, having won two of his last four races on the route course. He was particularly impressive in his losing efforts against quality runners, especially his last, going down by a short head to CRIMSON on July 31 in grade one with the likes of NIPSTER and KING ARTHUR behind.

Down in class, HOVER CRAFT has topweight 126lb and will need the pace to collapse for him to have a shot at catching rivals in the stretch run.

FEARLESS CHAMPION could be DaCosta’s main hope at 117lb with Dick Cardenas. The roan colt has improved since fitted with blinkers, shedding his cowardly habit of backing out whenever the pace quickens. Though he’s up in class, the pace could suit FEARLESS CHAMPION, whose new running style has become a sweeping move leaving the half-mile.

DaCosta has been entrusting Cardenas with his tactical races, leaving the more clear-thrust runners for Anthony Thomas, who is aboard run-on HOVER CRAFT, who could make them pay dearly if the pace gets suicidal.