IT is now official. Top-flight conditioner Anthony ‘Baba’ Nunes is now a trainer in the twin-island republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

The second-generation trainer, who has inscribed his name on many trophies in Jamaica, got his trainer’s licence over last weekend and is now officially entitled to start horses in his name at the Santa Rosa Park in Trinidad.

“I want to state from the outset and for absolute clarity that I am not leaving Jamaica. I will still be plying my trade here, but I have decided to spread my wings a bit by having operations in Jamaica and Trinidad, much like trainers in the United States who train and run horses in different states on a regular basis,”Nunes told the Complete Racing Guide.

Before receiving his licence to train in Trinidad, Nunes was able to put together a barn of 10 horses under the daily supervision of former champion jockey in Jamaica and Trinidad, Brian Harding. In the absence of a trainer’s licence, Trinidadian trainer H Gobin deputised for Nunes, with horses running under the former’s name.

“Brian (Harding) has been a tower of strength, as, although he has officially retired from competitive race riding, he is still in the back of the horses during exercise. We communicate daily using Skype, and he is able to give me updates on the horses, their progress and if there are any difficulties. This daily communication allows me to manage the process, but Brian plays a vital role,” said the trainer of Derby winner Terremoto. In addition to the presence of Harding, Nunes informed that three Jamaican grooms who have worked with him in the past travelled to Trinidad, to work with him there. In terms of his presence in Trinidad, Nunes said he plans to travel once a month to oversee operations in Trinidad which he has been doing for the last three to four months. “The travelling can be difficult at times but I am getting accustomed to it and I will manage well. Of course there will be teething pains as with any new endeavour, but I believe I am over the worst and I am really looking forward to grow and build my operations there.”

Unlike Jamaica;,where races are only run on dirt, the Santa Rosa track allows for racing on both dirt and grass. Racing on grass is a new experience for Nunes, who says he had to consult with elder brother Andrew for advice.

“Andrew has been training for quite a while now in Barbados, where they race exclusively on grass. I spoke with him and he gave me tips and guided me, but really, I don’t think this particular change will be a bother,” Anthony Nunes said.

One of the horses in Nunes’ barn in Trinidad is Selectabook, the top threeyear-old filly who won the 1,000 Guineas and who finished second in the St Leger. Nunes told this paper that the filly travelled well to Trinidad and is in good health and exercising as if still in Jamaica.

“Selectabook will benefit from being in Trinidad. Her racing opportunities will be enhanced, as after winning the Guineas she now qualifies for Open Allowance in Jamaica, where she will find it extremely difficult to win races. My strong belief is that the system here is wrong and very unfriendly to the three-year-olds, and I again call on the authorities in Jamaica to revisit this position and allow Classic winners and winners of the futurity races to progress to the Overnight level and not to Open Allowance. If this is done, the talented horses can grow and develop better,” Nunes said.