Bilingual starting to fulfil her promise
Bilingual, the improving chestnut filly trained by Anthony Nunes, confirmed her growing progression as one of the better three-year-olds around with a resounding victory in the Errol ‘Big Sub’ Subratie Memorial Trophy feature at Caymanas Park last Saturday.
After being forced by injury to miss the second half of the three-year-old Classic races earlier this season, Bilingual gave another hint of her potential when she won a Restricted Stakes race on September 30 over a mile (1,600m) in muddy conditions, defeating Western Warrior and stablemate Dontae by two lengths in 1:39.0.
Last Saturday, running in Overnight Allowance company for the first time, Bilingual (Dick Cardenas), surrounded rivals at the top of the lane and powered home to register a two-and-three-quarter- length win over Shining Light and Blue Dixie. The time of 1:37.4 was a clear indication of a horse on the improve.
An elated Nunes said the victory augurs well for the future.
“She [ Bilingual] is a nice filly. For her to come to the class for the first time and win comfortably is a good sign for the future. She had her issues right in the middle of the Classic season, just after the Jamaica Oaks, so we gave her some time off and brought her back and she is doing quite well.
“We all have to keep our eyes on her to see how she develops. We won’t make any future plans for her right now until we see how she is in a couple of days’ time,” Nunes informed.
Cardenas tracked the pace well off the lead on Bilingual behind fractions set by Gold Miner who led over Wong Don, Birdie My Love and Blue Dixie in the early exchanges.
Running past the five-furlong marker, Wong Don took the lead ahead of Gold Miner, with Uncle Taf close by. Bilingual was still under a snug wrap, but Cardenas then moved on Bilingual who rapidly swept past the trailers to settle down into a striking position on the heels of the leaders.
With that momentum, Bilingual caught up the leading pack at the top of the lane before she went on her merry way.
“This horse is really good. She did everything that was asked of her. She moved when I asked her to and that is good, as she is improving and showing signs of great ability. I think that she will develop into a nice horse. I have ridden her before and she felt really good this time,” the jockey said.