DaCosta, Walker for Caymanas feature
CHAMPION trainer Wayne DaCosta holds a strong hand in both sections of the 16th running of the Sir Howard and Hotline Stakes feature races at Caymanas Park today.
DaCosta will saddle Excellence in the $1,100,000 Hotline Stakes, a Restricted Allowance 11 race for native-bred fillies (NW2) and Lifeisjustforliving in the colts and geldings section for the Sir Howard Stakes, which will be run over 1,200 metres.
Excellence, owned by Derrick C Smith, is a chestnut filly by Traditional out of Pleasant Company (Reprieve) who looks certain to be the morning line favourite. She has only ran three times with one victory, but looks quite promising as she demonstrated with a good seven-length win over 1,500 metres on last.
Since then she has looked much improved in her preparation for this and although asked to go 100 metres shorter, has shown enough early speed to out run her eight opponents, especially with Lasix now administered. Champion and stable jockey Omar Walker, who has already ridden the filly twice, will again do duties.
Her main danger could come from either the Anthony Nunes-conditioned Wild Tradition, who won on debut two weeks ago over 1,100 metres in a reasonably good time of 1:08.1, or from the promising Frank Parham-trained Princess Audrey, who has a victory over the same distance in an almost similar time and is one of the most experienced runners in the line-up.
Like Excellence, Wild Tradition is by Traditional but out of Born To Be Wild (Wise Emissary) bred at Ham Stables Ltd and ran well to win as the 4-5 favourite in her only race to date.
However, her workout for her second encounter is anything but spectacular. Nonetheless from all indications she will report fit and with stable jockey Shane Ellis remaining in the saddle, could run well enough to keep the favourite game.
A&S Racing Stables’ Princess Audrey has been well drilled for a good performance and after coming off a very good effort behind the out of class Trial Lawyer, another promising run looks in store with the distance reduced.
Trainer Parham has again called for the services of an apprentice, this time Richard Mairs, who is in the top 10 bracket of the riders’ championship and will slip 3.0kgs. This is a move that could prove decisive for the daughter of Western Classic out of Unreal Fantasy, who will thoroughly enjoy the distance at the weights.
Lifeisjustforliving, unlike his stable mate Excellence, has only ran once but was so impressive in victory he looks hard to oppose although he will face much tougher opponents on this occasion. Owned by Church Pen Farms and bred at Orange Valley Estates, Lifeisjustforliving is a chestnut gelding by Region Of Merit out of Bold Queen (Cannon Shell), who has gone well in his exercise gallops to meet his second outing sharp and ready.
He’d better be as he will face serious combat from the Richard Azan-trained Krytogram, the mount of 4.0kg claiming apprentice Fabion Jones to come in at 53.0kg. Owned by Elite Bloodstock Limited Kryptogram has good ability and were he to leave his position at post number two on time with the field of seven could close with a flourish to make it close at the end. His stable companion Mark My Word is another with inform jockey Dick Cardenas astride who could run well in the early stages to set the stage for the late burst of Kryptogram while the Nunes-trained Stamp Of Authority who injured himself at the gates for his three-year-old debut a week ago could also take a hand in the finish with better behaviour. Ellis will have the leg in the irons once more.
Ones To Watch
Race 1 Commander Zero (Omar Walker)
Race 2 Esquire (Doushane Gordon)
Race 3 Il Caimano (Devon A Thomas)
Race 4 Alias Mr Cat (Dane Nelson)
Race 5 Grace Marie (Dick Cardenas)
Race 6 She’s The One (Carlton Malcolm)
Race 7 Green Hornet (Garfield Gordon)
Race 8 Excellence (Omar Walker)
Race 9 Cashley (Trevor Simpson)
Race 10 Lifeisjustforliving (Omar Walker)
Race 11 Habadasha (Ansley Dancel )