Perfect Neighbour lands GG Stakes
PERFECT NEIGHBOUR again proved himself one of the most consistent two-turn horses in training, swooping down on SUPERLUMINAL at the top of the straight and powering home in yesterday’s 10-furlong Governor General’s Stakes.
Sent off as the even-money favourite with Omar Walker, the 2013 Jamaica Derby winner sat off the pace in the five-horse field while stablemate DYSFUNCTIONAL dragged HOUDINI’S MAGIC and SUPERLUMINAL off their bridles from the start.
Racing alongside another stablemate, HOVER CRAFT, down the backstretch, PERFECT NEIGHBOUR made his move five furlongs out to race a clear fourth and went by HOUDINI’S MAGIC, approaching the threefurlong marker, to pounce on SUPERLUMINAL and DYSFUNCTIONAL coming off the home turn.
Worn out from having to chase DYSFUNCTIONAL, SUPERLUMINAL surrendered without a fight as PERFECT NEIGHBOUR quickly hit the front and pulled away to win by a length and a half, posting 2:07.3 for the distance.
Superfit DYSFUNCTIONAL rallied down along the rail inside the last half-furlong to overhaul SUPERLUMINAL, who was done in by champion trainer Wayne DaCosta’s tag team and weakened into third place.
DaCosta and Walker teamed up to sweep the afternoon’s feature races after earlier landing the sixfurlong Knutsford Park Cup with the filly MISS FORMALITY, who recovered from interference three furlongs out to win the nonwinners-of-two event by threequarter length from fast-finishing 16-1 outsider APOLLO BAY.
DaCosta’s perennial pursuer in the trainers’ standings, Anthony Nunes, combined with Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas for a two-timer, ICE COLD and MIRABILIS, in the second and 10th races, respectively.
Racing continues at Caymanas Park on Wednesday.