Fun Caan Dun to lead DaCosta’s charge

Jason DaCosta's importee, FUNCAANDUN has been blazing a hot trail at exercise, ripping 1:07.0 for five and a half furlongs last Saturday morning. The previous week, the Klimt-Fiftyshadesoffun colt clocked 1:00.1 from the gate, hinting that he's no ordinary debutant in Saturday's Rimsky Trophy at six furlongs.

Though facing two native-bred winners, stablemate LUCY IN THE SKY and Steven Todd's OH SO SMART, FUNCAANDUN's exercise reports suggest he is head and shoulders above the locals and four importees he will line up against.

Starting the weekend $2.32 million behind leader Gary Subratie, whose out-of-class American, DESERT OF MALIBU, spotted the field a dozen lengths before mowing down MADELYN'S SUNSHINE in last Saturday's St Catherine Cup, DaCosta has eyes on a three-timer - FUNCAANDUN, ROSETTA and SHE'S A MIRAGE - which could wipe out the deficit if all goes according to plan.

DaCosta easily secured back-to-back titles, 2021-22, narrowly missing the 2020 crown after taking over his late father's barn in the first quarter of the season. Solid support from champion owner Carlton Watson and his owner-breeder mother, Elizabeth, maintained DaCosta's momentum after his near miss, dominating successive seasons.

ROSETTA might have thrown in a clinker last out, finishing last in the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes won by stablemate INTERISTNTIMESAHEAD. However, the Bold Conquest Khadiliah runner returns in a fillies-only maiden special with two second-place finishes against colts under her girth, beaten by no more than a length on either occasion.

ROSETTA's main threat should be Ian Parsard's TEE OFF, Sensational Slam-Indian Bluff, a half-sister to Jamaica Derby runner-up, BRINKS. TEE OFF showed speed on her November 19 debut at seven furlongs, still strong inside the last, before BUTTERCUP, BLUE SENSATION and MATUSO relegated her to fourth.

However, ROSETTA appears to be quite versatile, a runner-up at six furlongs and a mile in back-to-back races since being treated with Lasix, suggesting she should get the better of her peers at six furlongs.

DaCosta has summoned one of his late father's favourite journeyman riders, Charlton Riley, for the coup de grace aboard SHE'S A MIRAGE in the night pan for non-winners of two races at five and a half furlongs.

SHE'S A MIRAGE could be DaCosta's longest shot of the day after finishing last on Boxing Day at six furlongs with Reyan Lewis. Throw that run out the window while noting the filly's previous effort, third behind EXOTIC LIGHT and return-winner CITY HAWK on December 9.