Nipster, Wow Wow put rivals on notice
Published:Monday | July 6, 2020 | 12:29 AMAinsley Walters/Gleaner Writer
TRAINER GARY Subratie and his main owner, Michros, made big classic statements yesterday with 2000 Guineas-bound colts NIPSTER and WOW WOW, who churned out impressive victories under Robert Halledeen, who rode a three-timer for the in-form barn.
NIPSTER avenged his loss against Anthony Nunes’ ABOVE AND BEYOND on March 7 by posting the fastest time at seven-and-a-half furlongs for the season, 1:31.2, behind a third-quarter split of 1:10.0.
ABOVE AND BEYOND, racing for the first time since beating NIPSTER by seven lengths, was slowly into stride and got caught in traffic under Shane Ellis down the backstretch.
NIPSTER, running at odds of 9-2, took over from EAGLE ONE and led EROY into the lane with DOUBLE CROWN chasing out wide, ahead of ABOVE AND BEYOND, being pushed to keep pace.
Ridden out by Halledeen, NIPSTER powered home by a length and a half, holding far-striding DOUBLE CROWN at bay. EROY stayed on for third ahead of 2-5 favourite ABOVE AND BEYOND.
Subratie and Michros are eyeing a 1000-2000 Guineas sweep following ANOTHER AFFAIR’s head-turning performance two Saturdays ago, clocking 1:19.3 at six and a half furlongs to beat colts and imported maidens out of sight.
WOW WOW confirmed his status as 2000 Guineas favourite with a workmanlike victory, his 10th straight and toughest to date, but was sheer class in attacking off the home turn before putting away Nunes’ super-fit UNIVERSAL BOSS in the stretch run, clocking 1:18.3 for six and a half furlongs.
Halledeen and Subratie had teamed up earlier to start their jockey-trainer three-timer with 7-1 chance RUM WITH ME in the sixth event, hanging on by a short head from GREEN GOLD RUSH, who was slowly into stride and came charging at the end.
Anthony Thomas also rode three winners on the 10-race card, landing LADY CARMEN in the fifth and a quick double, SILENT SEEKER and TOP SHELF, for Wayne DaCosta in the eighth and ninth events, respectively.
Ryan Darby also saddled a two-timer, BALAZO and PAKMAN, in the second and fourth.
Saturday-Sunday racing continues with limited spectators this weekend.