KINGSTON, Jamaica - After a close second place finish in the recent Jamaica Cup over 9 ½ furlongs (1,900m) behind Further and Beyond, Billy Whizz returns to his rightful status of non-winners of four.
On Saturday (December 4), Billy Whizz takes on rivals in a Restricted Stakes event (non-winners of four), meaning that when Billy Whizz raced in the Jamaica Cup, it was way above his pay grade.
In the Jamaica Cup, Billy Whizz led most of the way before being caught by Further and Beyond in the closing stages of the race, losing out by ½ length in a time of 2:00.4.
Billy Whizz has really improved beyond recognition in the past few months and with this field being just below the more established three-year-olds, Billy Whizz should be hard to beat.
Trained by Jason DaCosta, Billy Whizz worked a steady 1:14.3 for six furlongs on November 29 coming into this race. Dick Cardenas will remain in the saddle.
Billy Whizz will have company for this event as he has stablemates, Sir John, Three Times Lucky, Iannai Links, and Den Street in the line-up if anything should go wrong with the obvious favourite.
The race is really and truly on for second place and any number can play. DaCosta’s rival in the trainers’ championship Anthony Nunes holds a strong hand to fill that runner-up spot in Santorini and Bern Notice.
Both Santorini and Bern Notice last competed in a nine-furlong and 25 yards event on November 20. Big Jule won that race ahead of Bern Notice and Santorini in that order. Both runners, although would prefer it longer, but seven furlongs should be a good enough distance from them to get into the fray. Linton Stead rides Santorini, while Tevin Foster is aboard Bern Notice.
Don’t rule out DaCosta’s Den Street from the mix as the three-year-old bay gelding is slowly but surely rounding into form. Den Street’s last two runs have been third-place finishes which suggests that he should be ready now. Anthony Thomas will ride.
The rest of the field is made up of Press Conference, The Genesis, True Al Sky, and Legal Opportunity.
