Sammy cameo fails to save Kings
Jockey Linton Steadman aboard BIGDADDYKOOL heading back to the winners enclosure following his win in the 90TH RUNNING OF THE (ISP) JAMAICA ST LEGER over 2000 Metres at Caymanas Park in July.
Veteran trainer, Nunes, is confident the young horse has what it takes to win the $1 million purse on Saturday.
“It is the first time he (BIGDADDYKOOL) is going to run against the top A class older horses like SEEKING MY DREAM and PERFECT NEIGHBOUR, and so it’s left to be seen if he can manage them. But I am pretty confident in
Nunes’ biggest concern is that his main contender has not raced in over two months and he thinks this could have an effect on the outcome, but nevertheless remains very optimistic of his chances.
“He has trained well, I can’t be happier. I would have preferred if he had gotten a prep race but he had ‘stone’ squeeze about four weeks ago so we ended up missing the Governor Cup, which would have been our prep race. So it has been ten weeks, two and a half months between races.
“But he has trained nicely and I thing he can overcome it (A class, older horses). In my mind you are always going to have question marks until the race runs. But ideally I would love to have a race four weeks before but it didn’t happen and that is how it is in horse racing sometimes, things don’t work out the way you plan. But as far as me preparing him for this race with that in mind I have no complaints,” he said.
Nunes has won the event on three occasions and would love a fourth, he also wants to give Trinidadian owner Stephen Narinesingh his first Superstakes win. DHAKA, Bangladesh, (CMC): ALL-ROUNDER DARREN Sammy’s cameo failed to save Rajshahi Kings as they slumped to heart-breaking three-run defeat to Khulna Titans in the Bangladesh Premier League here yesterday.
Chasing 134 for victory at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Kings came up short on 130 all out off their 20 overs, to lose their opening game of the tournament.
The right-handed Sammy, who is leading the Kings this season, slammed an unbeaten 31 off 23 deliveries but it was not enough to get his side over the line.
His three sixes came down the stretch and kept Kings in the hunt but he perished at the start of the 18th over, bowled by seamer Shafiul Islam.
They needed seven runs off the last over but lost three wickets to see their challenge fizzle.
Sammy was one of just three players in double figures with
SAMMY
opener Mominul Haque stroking a top score of 64 off 57 deliveries.
Opting to bat first earlier, Titans reached 133 for eight off their 20 overs, with West Indies Twenty20 batsman Nicholas Pooran getting only 14.
Captain Mahmudullah and Riki Wessels both top-scored with 32.
In the other game at the venue, former Barbados and West Indies batsman Dwayne Smith failed with 10 as his Chittagong Vikings went down to Rangpur Riders by nine wickets.