Momentum with Will In Charge
WITH WILL IN CHARGE’S resounding Gold Cup defeat of SHE’S A MANEATER still echoing around Caymanas Park, Anthony Nunes’ BIGDADDYKOOL gets his Superstakes prep, more of a warmup, on a drop in class to open allowance for this afternoon’s Nigel B Nunes Memorial Trophy at nine furlongs and 25 yards.
After chasing home SHE’S A MANEATER in last year’s Superstakes and Diamond Mile, followed by victory in the Harry Jackson Memorial to close out the season, BIGDADDYKOOL has finished third in two starts this year, facing the possibility of missing the Diamond Mile – unless he lands the win-and-you’re-in Superstakes on November 10.
Nunes winning today’s trophy race named after his father is a mere formality for down-in-class BIGDADDYKOOL, who, along with SHE’S A MANEATER and WILL IN CHARGE, is among the top three horses in the country.
However, WILL IN CHARGE’s eye-popping run on Saturday, two-fifths of a second off EROS’ track record, albeit seven pounds lighter than topweight SHE’S A MANEATER, has made him the Superstakes favourite, turning the spotlight on BIGDADDYKOOL, who needs to respond with fire, or he can kiss Diamond Mile entry goodbye.
Down in class because he has not won a graded stakes in nine months, BIGDADDYKOOL has worked brilliantly and should run roughshod over his eight rivals, the majority of whom have never won an open allowance, more so a graded stakes.
Any thoughts of BIGDADDYKOOL not being ready, having last raced in June, were dispelled at exercise on Tuesday when he blew away DONTAE, clocking 1:05.4 for the last five and a half furlongs after cantering away from the winning post.
Though carrying topweight 126lb, the five-year-old gelding is so much of a graded-stakes two-turn specialist that it matters not one bit. The last time BIGDADDYKOOL worked this well was in preparation for last year’s Superstakes, in which he allowed SHE’S A MANEATER 10lb and lost by only two lengths.
MARQUESAS ran a brave race in last month’s Fontainbleu Trophy and comes in at 117lb, which should have Nunes quietly confident after witnessing his Oaks-winning filly, FAYROUZ, chase and beat the St Leger winner at seven and a half furlongs.
Ian Parsard’s SUPERLUMINAL loves two turns and Wayne DaCosta’s DYSFUNCTIONAL is on top of his game, which will make him get the distance. However, they both have similar running styles and will have LIGHTNING LILY for company on the lead, setting it up for BIGDADDYKOOL to mow them down.