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Nunes’ four-timer, Enthusiasm jerk ‘6’ bets
August 25, 2025
ANTHONY Nunes' four-timer, starting with a hat-trick, races four through six, followed by ENTHUSIASM's mild 6-1 upset in the eighth, impacted both the Reggae 6 and Twilight 6 last Saturday.
Nunes' hat-trick - even-money favourite FERNANDO, PLATINUM PRINCESS at odds of 5-2 and 3-5 favourite, UNCAPTURED EMPRESS - closed a cheap Reggae 6 for a $3,601 payout.
GOD OF LOVE opening the programme at 6-5, though not the favourite, would have been on everybody and their aunts' Reggae 6 bets.
HICKORY SLIM was also a must-carry in the second, stable confidence high as the 6-5 favourite. Derrick Brandt and David Miller's mare, Dancing Queen, landed a unique double, foaling KING'S CROWN in the third and FERNANDO, the lone local-bred among foreigners in the fourth for two-year-old maidens.
PLATINUM PRINCESS going off at 5-2, despite keeping far better company in five starts, would have made any form player proud as a banker, rallying to hold late-charging RUSH OF CLASS by three-quarter length at four furlongs straight.
UNCAPTURED EMPRESS, first time out for Nunes and reporting off a three-month break, had to fight hard to hold off 11-1 outsider GOLDEN SYRUP, a former stablemate, by a short head to close the title-chasing trainer's hat-trick.
Reggae 6 bettors have it all to pay for next Saturday, a mandatory payout, opening at $6.1 million.
Nunes' fourth winner, ENTHUSIASM, closed from off the pace with Dick Cardenas, to land the eighth. Sired by Wow Wow, who won the 2000 Guineas in 2020, beating still-active MAHOGANY, ENTHUSIASM's 6-1 added respectability to the Twilight 6 payout of $138,398.
In the day's feature, Jason DaCosta's lightweight, GIRVANO, carrying 101lb with Jordan Barrett in the Distinctly Irish Trophy at nine furlongs and 25 yards, floored none other than topweight stablemate, FUNCAANDUN, winner of last December's US$250,000 Mouttet Mile.
GIRVANO, who stepped up in class to the graded stakes-open allowance event with a 50 per cent win record from 10 starts, travelled the rail to go after FUNCAANDUN and BARNABY, who made their moves three furlongs out to relegate MAMMA MIA and NEO STAR.
Gnawing at his topweight stablemate, GIRVANO gained the advantage inside the final half-furlong for a one-length win, making the best of a 25lb advantage.
