By Ainsley Walters, Staff ReporterCHAMPION TRAINER Wayne DaCosta yesterday landed a three-timer at Caymanas Park, almost erasing the lead Philip Feanny held over him in the race for the 2003 trainers' championship.
Starting the day $674,050 behind Feanny, DaCosta swept the first three places in the opening event with FORMALLY GOLD leading home stablemates TROPICAL STORM and FLY WITH ME before returning to lift the William Read Memorial feature race with hot 1-2 favourite ZULU PRINCESS.
Winston Griffiths was aboard DaCosta's first two winners, producing strong finishes, especially in the William Read, but it was apprentice Dane Nelson who closed the three-timer in the eighth race with DIGITAL via the stewards' room.
DIGITAL stayed on determinedly for second in mid-track after 6-5 favourite SIREN, ridden by Phillip Clunis, hindered THAT'S GOLD charging along the rail inside the final 50 metres of the 1200-metre claiming event.
First past the post SIREN was afterwards disqualified and placed third for bumping into Paul Ramsay-ridden THAT'S GOLD.
DaCosta's three-timer all but diminished his deficit to Feanny, who he had dethroned for the 2002 championship. In all, DaCosta's runners earned $662,800 in stakes, making his arrears $21,900 off Feanny.
PHAREAL, Feanny's lone runner on the day, finished down the track in the William Read, earning $10,650 for his effort after being hindered by third-placed RUCKUS, who was later disqualified for the infringement.
The 2003 trainers' title race remains an open affair between the two top trainers even though Feanny's horses swept the 2000 Guineas, Derby and St. Leger earlier this year.
DaCosta, however, has a more powerful all-round barn ranging from Claimers to top imported Americans dominating Graded Stakes races.
The day's feature came down to a thrilling finish with Griffiths aboard ZULU PRINCESS repelling rivals from gate to wire in a speedy 1:19.2 for her second consecutive win.
ZULU PRINCESS surged to the lead and first dismissed SCOTCHONTHEROCKS spinning into the stretch run before SAINT COLUMBA and rail-running RUCKUS came with a two-pronged challenge in the rush for the wire.
Responding to a strong ride from Griffiths, the four-year-old filly kept going and lasted home by three-quarter length from SAINT COLUMBA, who hit top gear in mid-track a furlong out but failed to carry through his run.
Shane Ellis also had two winners on the day, RIVER JORDON for Hall of Famer Kenneth Mattis in the fourth and HAPHAZARD for trainer Anthony Nunes in the following event .
Nelson, victorious with BLUE DEBBIE in the third, closed his double with DIGITAL.
Racing resumes this Saturday with a 10-race card featuring the 1200-metre Magnum Tonic Wine Sprint.
