Yaya’s Dream to arrive late
BLUE MOON came back from a 20-month break to score an impressive victory over 1000 metres straight on September 15 and should make it two in a row when she faces nine rivals in tomorrow’s first race over the 1000-metre round at Caymanas Park.
Last month’s win, in a respectable 59.4 seconds, would not have surprised the five-yearold mare’s connections as she has shown very good ability in the past. On March 28, 2016 BLUE MOON slammed Kanaloa by five lengths in a maiden three-yearold event over tomorrow’s distance. Kanaloa is now campaigning against some of the best horses in the island, and BLUE MOON could well be on her way to the top.
SECOND RACE
The second race is over 1000 metres straight and has attracted seven promising local three-yearolds and United States-bred fouryear-old LEGENDARY U. The latter has trained very well for this race and must be watched. Hot favourite is expected to be NUCLEAR FLIGHT, who has won three times and finished second twice in five starts. Two of those wins have come over 1000 metres straight, and NUCLEAR FLIGHT will again make a bold bid.
My idea of the winner, however, is the Wayne DaCostatrained YAYA’S DREAM. The Adore The Groom - Just a Flutter filly was literally flying at the end of the September 1 win over the straight by NUCLEAR FLIGHT. LEGENDARY U and QUANTUM DANCER are expected to push the favourite early, and the selection should stay close before nabbing her rivals late.
The third over 1600 metres could prove to be a knotty race. There is no denying the class of MARKET FORCE, but he remains heavy after a long break, and last year’s St Leger runner-up may have to wait a bit more for his first win in 2018. The one they all have to beat is DaCosta’s WINTER IS COMING. The four-year-old gelding slips down a level and comes in 4kg lighter than his last start courtesy of apprentice Christopher Mamdeen. In his last run over 1600 metres on August 18, WINTER IS COMING was touched off by HEY CHAMP in 1:40.4. He carried 55kg that day and will run with 53kg in the same claiming group ($550,000) tomorrow.
CONCUR led for 900 metres before giving up the gallop in $250,000 claiming on October 3 and is the one to beat in Race Four for $180,000 claimers. The seven-year-old gelding is definitely one of the fittest in the 13-horse field and should use his superior pace to go clear of rivals early.
Anthony Nunes’ newcomer, CORAZON, is training well and is tipped for the fifth while GIACONDA is a cinch in the final race of the Sunrise-6.
SUNRISE-SIX SELECTIONS
1. BLUE MOON
2. YAYA’S DREAM
3. WINTER IS COMING
4. CONCUR
5. CORAZON
6. GIACONDA