Eagle One favoured in competitive George Hosang feature
AFTER enduring a topsy-turvy 2022 campaign, Jason Dacosta’s Eagle One could now get on the right side of the form books as he is favoured to top a threeyear-old and upwards Overnight Allowance contest for the George Hosang Trophy over 5 1/2 furlongs (1,100m) at Caymanas Park today.
The mouth-watering event, which will see 12 horses vie for the lion’s share of a $1.14million purse, is set to bring the curtains down on the 10-race card.
Post time is 11:30 am.
The American-bred Eagle One only won two races with two second- and one thirdplace finish in 17 starts last year. However, most of his races were against better company in the Open Allowance class and those cannot be understated.
Eagle One, one of two runners in the field for Dacosta, is now back down in class where he has been effective, and despite allowing weight all around, he has been active at exercise in preparation for this seasonal bow and is certainly the one to beat.
Dacosta’s other trainee
Super Duper, to be partnered with Reyan Lewis, is also out for her seasonal bow. Didn’t do much in 11 starts last season, only winning a solitary race, accompanied by one second place and three third place finishes.
However, like Eagle One, Super Duper has been steadily prepared for this re-entry and should have no problems with the distance. Once she leaves the gates in good order, she will take some catching.
Carl Anderson’s Emperorofthecats enjoyed good form last season, winning five of his 11 races, complemented by one second- and three third-place finishes. Out for the first time this season, and while winning this is not beyond him, he will be allowing weight to some of his quicker rivals. So it is left to be seen how
Emperorofthecats does here with the visor removed. Paul Francis gets the leg up.
The Anthony Nunes-trained Nuclear Noon is also expected to factor in the outcome as he enters this engagement in good form and also has the weight swing in his favour.
Nuclear Noon had one win and three third-place finishes in six outings last year but has already started the year on a good note, placing fourth behind stablemate Curlin’s Affair over the five furlongs (1,000m) straight course on January 7. He continues to move well at exercise and will certainly be thereabouts at the end.
Of the others, Alford Brown’s Yellowstone seems the next best prospect to land this trophy for his connections. Yellowstone won his seasonal bow in fine style over 5-1/2 furlongs on January 15, and though stepping up for the first time, he has immense potential, and is expected to give a good account of himself.
Meanwhile, Ras Emanuel, Generational, Helicopter, The Good Witch, Taurus Boy, and the Patrick Lynch pair of Ring Charmer and Charmin Beauty complete the line-up.
ONES TO WATCH
Race 1) Legal Opportunity/ Six Avenue/beautiful Bran/ Dancinginthebreeze
Race 2) Plantinum Force/ Divine Force/boasey/all For Love
Race 3) Edina Marsh/ Potential/zion’s Princess/ Heroine
Race 4) Roulette Boss/ Savvy Girl/truly Begotten Son/ Roaring Thunder
Race 5) Denbigh Life/kd Rocket/colour Me Tan/mother Nature
Race 6) Simba The Lion/ Three Card Guy/jjthestriker/ Sensational Ending
Race 7) Den Street/ Atlantic Blue/iannai Links/ Turnonthelight
Race 8) Cotterwood Kathy/ Xceptional Babz/gracefully Made/wowtastic
Race 9) GT Boy/the Citadel/ Sunset Silhouette/stomp The Rhythm
Race 10) Emperorofthecats/ Super Duper/nuclear Noon/ Eagle One