KINGSTON, Jamaica - Title-chasing trainer, Anthony Nunes saddled five winners on a single race day for the first in his career at the opening meet of the Diamond Mile two-day racing extravaganza at Caymanas Park on Friday, November 8.
Nunes set about by purchasing fresh stock to fortify his predominantly three-year-old attack and this worked handsomely. Plus, the engagement of the returning three-time champion, Dane Nelson added more fire power to the Nunes effort.
The trainer/jockey combination opened with a second-place finish by Royal Approach in the second race on the 11-race programme but as faith would have it, the result was reversed and the combination revelled in their good fortune by winning the first of two maiden Special Weight races for two-year-olds.
Nunes then saddled Latapy in the seventh which was a Restricted Allowance event over one mile (1,600m), to trigger a burst of four wins on the trot for the trainer.
Prince Charles took Division One and Princess Ava, Division Two of the $1.3-million Supreme Ventures Diamond Trophy over six-and-a-half furlongs.
Nunes then closed out his five-timer with Legality in the $1.4-million Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Stakes over seven furlongs (1,400m). Apart from winning on Royal Approach, Nelson also won aboard Princess Ava and Legality while Reyan Lewis was atop Latapy and Prince Charles.
After completing the five-timer, The Supreme Racing Guide caught up with a very pleased Nunes who was humbled by the hard-earned effort.
“First of all, I am fortunate and blessed not only to win five races but to have the staff that I have and the ownership group that I have. You certainly do not win five races by yourself, well not as a trainer.
“I would not change any of my staff for anybody because they work hard and are good people who love their horses. That is all I can ask of them as a trainer that they love their horses.
“As ownership goes, five guys came together, I know the horses are in my name because some of them were away and they did not get the chance for the paperwork to be done properly.
“These guys came together and supported me and we purchased Legality and a couple more horses, and I have to thank Mr Philip Feanny as well, for he did not have to sell me these horses and I got them in excellent condition. I did not have much to do with them since they came to my barn and I am so full of gratitude right now that I do not know how to explain it.
“My entire staff, my whole shift group has to take a bow for this,” Nunes emphatically stated.
