Florindia new barn provides ominous second wind

FLORINDIA showed exactly how much difference a change of barn can make, wiring rivals by nine and a quarter lengths to land yesterday’s seven-furlong Allan E ‘Billy’ Williams Memorial on her first start for Anthony Nunes.

Winless in five races since opening her local account at six furlongs last July, American FLORINDIA reported vastly improved, clocking 1:25.4 to beat non-winners of an overnight-allowance race, company she had struggled against in four outings after chasing home SUPERNATURAL POWER in August.

The five-year-old mare closed a three-timer for lightweight Tajay Suckoo, winning at odds of 5-1, completing a jockey-trainer two-timer for Anthony Nunes and the claiming rider.

Suckoo, who had earlier turned the Reggae 6 on its head aboard 15-1 longshot THE SOUL WARRIOR in the third event, combined with Nunes to land the seventh by 10 lengths astride ANOTHER WOW, beating three-year-old maidens at six furlongs.

FLORINDIA, who had last raced in the grade-one Bruceontheloose on December 6, Mouttet Mile Day, showing brief speed before disappearing, finishing next-to-last in the 12-horse field, turned back RANI BANGALA, SENSATIONAL SOUL and OIL MACHINE in splits of 24.1, 47.2, and 1:12.3, sprinting clear like an out-of-class runner inside the final furlong.

Nunes’ four-year-old Canadian, MISS GROVE, held off a rallying SENSATIONAL SOUL for second, completing the stable exacta in the feature.

Champion trainer Jason DaCosta equalled Nunes’ two winners, 4-5 favourite STARRAURA, ridden by Robert Halledeen in the fifth at six furlongs, later closing the 10-race card with three-year-old classic aspirant, BIGGER BOSS, who won at six and a half furlongs in 1:22.2 under Tevin foster.

A 2-1 favourite and full brother to 2023 Gold Cup winner, She’s My Destiny, BIGGER BOSS disputed the early lead with UNCLE NALLY before falling back fourth and making a bid at VICTORIOUS LINKS from against the rail in the stretch run, powering clear a furlong out.

Racing continues this afternoon with eyes on last year’s champion two-year-old, WE JAMMIN, taking on older horses in the second event.

A mandatory Ketch 9 payout, which could reach $6m, awaits punters as well as a Reggae 6 single-winner bonus of $4.5m, both bets opening at the first event.