Not Walker's fault - DaCosta absolves jockey of blame for Diamond Mile mishap

Trainer Wayne DaCosta says jockey Omar Walker should not be blamed for SHE'S A MANEATER'S scratch from the Diamond Mile race at Caymanas Park on Saturday.

Before the start of the prestigious race, which was crucial to the outcome of the trainers' championship being contested by front-runners DaCosta and Anthony Nunes, who trains BIGDADDYKOOL, pre-race favourite SHE'S A MANEATER, had settled into her starting position. However, PEKING CRUZ, also settling in beside her, tumbled in the gate and repeatedly kicked DaCosta's prized filly, while moving about violently.

This led to SHE'S A MANEATER becoming agitated, overpowering the gate attendant and storming the gate, before galloping on to the infield at the venue. Both horses were scratched from the feature race as a result.

However, DaCosta was quick to point out that there is no strain on his relationship with Walker, the jockey of SHE'S A MANEATER, because of the incident, this in the wake of criticism from some fans, who feel the experienced rider could have calmed the horse.

"The horse beside him riled up and it spooked his horse and he came off his horse," DaCosta told The Gleaner yesterday. "She got nervous, hit the front of the gate, the gate opened and she galloped off. I'm not apportioning any blame to Walker. When he came off the horse, he had no control over her after that. The gateman should've had control over the horse."

Walker's agent, Donovan Wilson, also thinks his client should not be criticised. However, he did not blame the gate attendant.

"Why would you blame Mr Walker?" Wilson asked. "Things do happen. People are saying maybe he should have control, maybe the gateman should have had more control. The horse got riled up but there's nothing he or the gateman could have done about it. Nobody knows what really took place in the gate when the horse got riled up, so there's nothing I can say about that. Maybe the gateman should have had more control, but we don't know what could have happened."

With SHE'S A MANEATER missing from the race, Robert Halledeen jockeyed WILL IN CHARGE to victory, but only just, as showboating before passing the post almost saw BIGDADDYKOOL come through victorious. Had that happened, Nunes would have wrapped up the championship. However, victory could still go to DaCosta, who is not quite ready to throw in the towel.

"At this stage, it's still possible," DaCosta said. "Nunes has the upper hand, but while it's remote at this stage, it's still possible."

Nunes started Saturday's race day $961,650 behind DaCosta and won four events on the 14-race card, one more than DaCosta. With BIGDADDYKOOL finishing second in the Diamond Mile, Nunes earned $2.2 million, while none of DaCosta's six runners yielded any rewards after SHE'S A MANEATER's scratch.