Speedy HEART OF THE SEA to drown rivals
HEART OF THE SEA has the speed and a rail-hugging draw to steal a march on rivals in tomorrow’s closing event at five furlongs round, a victory Jason DaCosta badly needs to end the weekend on a high in his battle with Anthony Nunes atop the trainers’ stakes standings.
Nunes starts today’s card leading DaCosta by $1.2m after FURTHER AND BEYOND’s victory over BILLY WHIZZ in the rival barns’ Jamaica Cup showdown the previous week. The stables are expected to duke it out today, especially in a rematch between Nunes’ SANTORINI and DaCosta’s UNRULY BOSS at nine furlongs and 25 yards.
Tomorrow’s showdown is in the nightpan, a quick sprint for local non-winners of two races and imported maidens in which DaCosta has three runners – HEART OF THE SEA, HEART OF A LION and SUDDEN FLIGHT – all speedsters, going up against Nunes’ out-of-form OLDKINGCOLE and sneaky ALIMONY.
Gary Crawford’s importee, TRUE BRAVADO, has shown good speed in his eight starts but reports off a two-month lay-up, training mainly in the equine pool, casting doubts on his fitness, especially having to come around from a wide draw in a packed field, with topweight 120lb.
DaCosta has shown his hand with HEART OF THE SEA, summoning leading rider, Anthony Thomas, to take the reins from female claiming rider, Abigail Able, who had been a fixture aboard the chestnut filly for her seven previous starts, including a victory at four furlongs straight.
Last time out, HEART OF THE SEA stumbled at the start with Able and flung her head high on recovering, but still managed to lead the five-straight race in an opening quarter of 22.3, before MUM, a winner without a penalty after being disqualified from her previous race, ran through approaching the final furlong.
HEART OF THE SEA eventually finished fourth, barely losing third at the wire, heads on, with late-charging RING CHRARMER. BRIDAL BLUSH was three-quarter length ahead in second place.
Returning only five pounds heavier with Thomas, should HEART OF THE SEA get her usual bullet start from post-position two, the rail should be hers in a flash. Thomas is one of the most patient riders at the park, sometimes overly, which will be to his benefit should any of ROCKET LILY, TRUE BRAVADO or ALIMONY range up on the outside.
Though not the most resolute of runners, HEART OF THE SEA has the draw and minimum trip in her favour. TRUE BRAVADO and ALIMONY are drawn out wide at stalls 12 and 13, respectively, in the 14-horse field, which could leave either running wide to the half-mile or possibly too used up to get to the first corner.