Rivalries intense in SVL Diamond MIle

by

November 30, 2015

Photo

@Normal:Robert Halledeen stands tall in the saddle as he wins the Alex's Imports Gold Cup aboard Perfect Neighbour, capturing the feature race, over 1400 metres, at Caymanas Park.

All 16 horses entered for Saturday's inaugural Supreme Ventures Limited Diamond Mile at Caymanas Park have stood their ground, hunting the lion's share of J$13.5m, the richest-ever horse-racing purse in the history of the English-speaking Caribbean.

The winner of the race will receive J$6.524m. Second through 10th will earn J$2.134m, J$1.256m, J$754,000, J$513,000, J$209,000, J$189,000, J$179,000, and J$169,000, respectively.

Champion trainer Wayne DaCosta's PERFECT NEIGHBOUR is out for revenge. After winning three grade-one races and seemingly poised to hand the 14-time champion trainer his first hold on the Superstakes, he was controversially beaten into third by Richard Azan's FRANFIELD in the 2000-metre event on November 14.

FRANFIELD survived a lengthy stewards' enquiry for an incident on the final turn. However, the connections of PERFECT NEIGHBOUR have an appeal pending at The Jamaica Racing Commission, heightening the rivalry for the Diamond Mile rematch.

Spencer Chung's dethroned two-time Superstakes champion, TYPEWRITER, is out to improve on his form after finishing fourth in his signature event.

Also out to prove a point is DaCosta's Jamaica Derby winner, SEEKING MY DREAM, who also lost on Superstakes Day, narrowly beaten by PHINEAS in the Coca Cola Invitational Mile, burdened with 57.0 kilos in his first run among grade-one horses.

DaCosta's other entrants are United States-bred FORTUNEONEHUNDRED, 2000 Guineas champion ALI BABA, HOVER CRAFT, and ALL CORRECT, giving the champion trainer a stacked deck.

Harry Parsard's versatile United States-bred UPPA TUNE, runner-up to PERFECT NEIGHBOUR in last month's 1400-metre Gold Cup, skipped the Coca Cola Mile in preparation for the Diamond Mile and heads the scale.

UPPA TUNE shares topweight with stablemate PETE'SWILDONE and FORTUNEONEHUNDRED as imported horses will carry topweight 57.0 kilos. Older local breds carry 55.0 and three year-olds, 53.0. Fillies and mares benefit from a two-kilo sex allowance.

Trainers Horses

Wayne DaCosta Perfect Neighbour 55.0

Spencer Chung Typewriter 55.0

Spencer Chung Commanding Chief 55.0

Wayne DaCosta All Correct 55.0

Harry Parsard Potcheen 55.0

Harry Parsard Uppa Tune 57.0

Solomon Sharpe Uncle Taf 55.0

Patrick Lynch Traditional Prince 55.0

Wayne DaCosta Hover Craft 55.0

Wayne DaCosta Seeking My Dream 53.0

Fitzroy Glispie Timeforarms 55.0