KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica Day (Saturday, November 13, 2021) with its three high-profile races, is positioned to be the major deciding factor in the ultra-close battle for top honours in the 2021 trainers’ race.
This main battle involves current leader Jason DaCosta and champion Anthony Nunes. While Nunes and DaCosta are the leading protagonists, at this time, one cannot write off the chances of third-placed Gary Subratie.
Let’s analyse the three big races and their impact on the championship, but first a look at the present standings.
| POSITION | NAME | FIRST | SECOND | THIRD | STARTS | STAKES | |
| 1 | DACOSTA, JASON | 57 | 31 | 40 | 306 | $45,027,105 | |
| 2 | NUNES, ANTHONY | 50 | 53 | 43 | 349 | $44,941,460 | |
| 3 | SUBRATIE, GARY | 46 | 44 | 48 | 339 | $40,822,485 |
Based on these latest figures, DaCosta leads Nunes by the paltry sum, in racing terms, of $84,645. Subratie is $4,204,620 behind DaCosta.
THE JAMAICA CUP
The total purse of the Jamaica Cup is $6 million broken down as follows:
JAMAICA CUP PURSE DISTRIBUTION
| FIRST | $3,275,00 |
| SECOND | $1,090,000 |
| THIRD | $545,000 |
| FOURTH | $275,000 |
| FIFTH | $165,000 |
| SIXTH | $110,000 |
If either DaCosta or Nunes is victorious in the Jamaica Cup then one will be in pole position to win the championship, and if Subratie wins he would make things even more interesting for race-goers.
In the Jamaica Cup, DaCosta has King Arthur, Billy Whizz, and Hover Craft; Nunes – Further And Beyond and Oneofakind, and Subratie, Crimson, Calculus, and Supreme Soul.
But what is of major significance, is that the second-place money of over $1 million, is the equivalent of winning two Overnights. Plus, third place is like winning an Overnight. The final placings, therefore, will be crucial, as every cent will count, with the trainers’ race being so close.
If Nunes wins the Jamaica Cup, he will establish a sizeable advantage and the same holds for DaCosta and both have enough stock in their barns to aid the cause after November 13, to hold whatever lead they gain.
Should Nunes win and DaCosta finishes second and third or, vice versa, then the Pick-3 Challenge Trophy, the Ian Levy Cup and the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes gain some added significance as money-spinners.
Subratie has a hard task of winning the championship but there is always the possibility of him ending with a one-two placing in the Jamaica Cup. Yes, Calculus, Crimson, first and second is surely possible.
If Subratie does finish first and second, he will either be in the lead or much closer to the leader.
Those are some of the questions that will be answered after the first running of the Jamaica Cup.
Other considerations to note are the $2.5 million Port Royal Sprint where Subratie with Duke holds a stronger hand when compared with Nunes (Legality) and DaCosta with Eagle One.
Then there is the $1.6 million St Elizabeth Distaff, with DaCosta holding the key with Lure of Lucy, Ianzha Links, and Make Up Artist. In the distaff Nunes is represented by Go Deh Girl; and Subratie by a four-pronged attack of Heavenly Glitter, Sencity, Awesome Treasure, and Sweet and Smart.
Any which way it goes on Jamaica Day, winning by the top three trainers is crucial but getting in the money is equally as important. Again, every cent counts.
Fireworks are in store!
