KINGSTON, Jamaica - Following a sound conclusion to the 2024 racing season, Anthony Nunes, a three-time champion trainer, has kicked off his 2025 campaign with notable success.
On the very first race day of the New Year, Nunes celebrated victory with three of his horses: Tribal Chief, Prince Amaan, and Smart Trick.
In addition to these triumphs, he also secured two second-place finishes with the recently acquired horses Neo Star and Barnaby.
Due to these results, Nunes has positioned himself as the early frontrunner in the trainers’ championship standings for 2025. Last year, he ended in second place behind champion Jason DaCosta, with Gary Subratie taking the third spot. Notably, Subratie achieved a win on New Year’s Day with his horse Sensational Move, while DaCosta found himself without a victory on this occasion.
Reflecting on his strong last quarter in 2024, Nunes remarked, "I thought we did very well. We didn't expect that in 2024, we would be where we are. We set a five-year plan for us starting with 2025, and I think we came ahead, maybe six months earlier than we expected, and thank God for that.”
His success can also be attributed to the support he receives from the owners who have invested in his stable. "The owners reinvested in my barn, and we got some nice horses, and the staff back at the stable continue to work hard. It's the same staff that won the three championships in a row, and when you win the Jamaica Derby it always makes it even more special,” he added.
Despite his performance on New Year’s Day, Nunes remained prudent and mindful of the challenges ahead, emphasizing the importance of maintaining consistency throughout the season. "This is an ideal start. Every winner is important for developing the stables; three winners is an absolute delight. What is of importance to me is that these three winners all had a different set of owners, which is vital for the well-being of the stables,” he explained to Quickgallopja.com.
When discussing his upcoming stock of two- and three-year-olds, particularly as the new Classic season looms, Nunes conveyed a sense of cautious optimism. “At present, I have some good juveniles who are learning their craft. As for the three-year-olds, you would have noticed that the 2024 two-year-old season was underwhelming, and in my estimation, better horses from the many and varied stables are yet to race.”
He concluded with hope for the future, saying, “I have a good lot of potentially good three-year-olds. Only time and good health will decide their future," reflecting his belief in the promising prospects of his stable as they aim to build on their early success in the year.
