Sun | Jul 26, 2026

Da Boom ready to explode

Published:Saturday | July 30, 2011 | 12:00 AM
ATRAILOFTEARS (outside), with Paul Francis, powering past a weakening SAINT MARY (Ansel Dancel) in last Saturday's eighth race over 1820 metres at Caymanas Park. Owned by Good Heart and trained by Peter-John Scully, ATRAILOFTEARS (5-1) covered the distance in 2:00.2. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The improving American filly DA BOOM is tipped to win today's three-year-old and up overnightallowance feature for the G.A. 'Sarge' Bucknor Memorial Cup, to be contested by a full field of 16 over the straight five course at Caymanas Park.

The annual cavalry charge has a highly competitive look about it, with others such as the joint track record holder MINISTEROFJUSTICE, the fleet-footed three-year-old colt SARAGOSSA, along with the much-improved SAN ANTONIO, DIABOLICAL KID, SIR JAADU BABA and PALACE GOLD expected to figure seriously.

Going for DA BOOM is the fact that she's at a stage of rapid improvement, characterised by her close second to out-of-class NEW KINGSTON over 1200 metres on July 9 when running wide into the straight.

Only beaten a length that day, DA BOOM had the likes of the then favourite MINISTEROFJUSTICE some 21/2 lengths behind in third and, now 1.0kg better off, should maintain her superiority.

Trained by Spencer Chung, DA BOOM last won over 1200 metres in restricted company on May 14, when leading home subsequent winner PALACE GUARD by 21/2 lengths over 1200 metres, and should again have the measure of her.

Since being fitted with the tongue tie for the first time on May 14, DA BOOM has improved significantly and, although yet to win over the straight, looks the type that will acquit herself well over same.

She looks nicely off at the weights with 52.0k and back-to-form Doushane Gordon aboard, and will not be easily denied, with everything apparently in her favour.

Main rivals

Her main rivals are PALACE GOLD, who loves the straight but is worst drawn at post position one; SARAGOSSA who will no doubt set off in front from his favourable high-number draw; improving SAN ANTONIO and, of course, MINISTEROFJUSTICE ,in finding horses for the Hit-6.

The Anthony 'Baba' Nunes-trained SARAGOSSA chased home the fleet-footed SUPER DAVE behind a fast time over the course when last raced on May 28 and, with only 51.0kg, under title-chasing jockey Dick Cardenas, looks the principal danger to my selection, DA BOOM.

Other firm fancies on the 10-race programme are TRIAL LAWYER in the third race, SECRET WEAPON to go one better in the fourth, LITTLE CHUPS in the fifth, down-in-class ANDY CAPP in the eighth for $180,000 claimers, and down-in-class THEREALPRINCE to stave off MING LEI in the seventh.