DaCosta to dominate Sunrise-Six

Former top sprinter POKER STAR has been dropped to $210,000 claiming by his connections and should have few problems in putting away his eight rivals in tomorrow’s second race, the first in the popular Sunrise-Six.

Alarm bells should be ringing when a trainer drops a top-rated horse so low, but Wayne DaCosta is desperately trying to retain his champion trainers’ title, and the six-year-old gelding should provide him with the winners’ purse of $360,350.

In his last run, POKER STAR was sixth by nine lengths to crack sprinter CHACE THE GREAT, clocking 1:12.4 in the Caribbean Sprint on Superstakes Day, November 10. The opening splits in that race were 22.0x45.0. Only LOOSE CANNON has the class to go that fast, but POKER STAR (Omar Walker aboard), at 52kg, is just too light to be tested in this field.

Two-in-a-row

DaCosta should make it two-in-a-row in the second Sunrise-Six event, Race Three on the ​​programme. WINTER IS COMING, who slammed $550,000 claiming by five lengths on October 31, has come down from overnight allowance to face $450,000 claimers in a 1600 metres race. Last Saturday, WINTER IS COMING was not disgraced in placing 10th by 14 lengths to SUPERLUMINAL in a fast-run 1700-metre race. They went 46.0, 1:10.4, 1:37.4 (final time 1:45.3) with the selection 10 lengths or two seconds off the pace before clocking a creditable 1:48.2. The four-year-old gelding will carry a featherweight 51kg and is expected to lead all the way, with apprentice Christopher Mamdeen aboard.

DANOS LA PAZ, who performed fairly well in overnight recently, while being trained by Anthony Nunes, is his only danger. However, when last venturing over 1700 metres, DANOS LA PAZ clocked 1:50.3 and should be well behind WINTER IS COMING in the final straight.

GENERAL MUBARAAK has always run well when dropped to 53kg and is given a grand chance to finally shed his maiden tag in the third. Eleven will face the starter in the 1300-metre event in which only TWILIGHT HEROINE can be considered a serious rival. When dropped to this weight on November 24, GENERAL MUBARAAK lost by just a head to SILVER CRASS over 1500 metres. He returned with 57kg on December 8 in a 1000-metre straight race but lost to BORN TO LIVE and a fast-finishing TWILIGHT HEROINE. The selection is better suited to this distance. He is expected to go into an early lead and should not be caught.

Course specialist BULLET RAJ will give DaCosta another win in the fourth, a 1000-metre straight race for $180,000 claimers. This is the five year-old’s favourite distance. On June 23, BULLET RAJ defeated $180,000 claimers by four lengths and has been campaigning in $250,000 claiming with much success since. His superior pace will put him clear of the field from halfway, and he should cruise to an easy victory.

DRAGLINE is the firm fancy for the sixth, Race Five of the Sunrise-Six, while well-bred newcomer WESTERN WHEELS is doing well on the exercise track and is poised to give Anthony Nunes his first win for the day.

SUNRISE-SIX SELECTIONS

2. POKER STAR
3. WINTER IS COMING
4. GENERAL MUBARAAK
5. BULLET RAJ
6. DRAGLINE
7. WESTERN WHEELS