Funcaandun makes Seeking My Dream statement

FUNCAANDUN, Mouttet Mile 2024 runner-up, third in last year's race behind RIDEALLDAY and LEGACY ISLE, yesterday earned 60 points towards 2026 qualification with a convincing victory over his stablemates in the Seeking My Dream Trophy at seven and a half furlongs.

Out for his third start this season and already armed with 40 points, which placed him 19th in the race for one of 10 Mouttet Mile gates reserved for local-based runners, American FUNCAANDUN's win bumped him up to 100 points, sixth in the table led by already-qualified RIDEALLDAY. 

GIRVANO, who proved no match for compatriot FUNCAANDUN, moved to third on 130 points behind RIDEALLDAY and PACK PLAYS (150), earning 20 points for a third-place finish, denied second by pacesetter CALIFORNIA CROWN, ensuring a one-two-three finish for champion pair of trainer Jason DaCosta and owner Carlton Watson. 

United States-bred BARNABY, Anthony Nunes' 4-5 favourite, was outsped by DaCosta's trio, his intended rabbit, NEO STAR, chased off the lead by rival DaCosta's CALIFORNIA CROWN.

BARNABY, who had finished ahead of FUNCAANDUN and GIRVANO in April's win-and-you're-in Ian Levy Cup, third behind RIDEALLDAY, has been relegated to joint fourth alongside OF A REVOLUTION, both having started the day on 110 points. 

Though carrying topweight 126lb, 5-2 chance FUNCAANDUN raced comfortably in third, tracking CALIFORNIA CROWN and NEO STAR, before making his move three furlongs out. 

Attacking CALIFORNIA CROWN a furlong and a half out, FUNCAANDUN encountered sparse resistance from his stablemate and sprinted clear for a comfortable victory, winning by three-and-a-half lengths in 1:30.2, the first of two wins for DaCosta and Robert Halledeen on the 10-race card.

The pair returned to lift division one of the James B Dawes Memorial with another foreigner, RICORICORICO, who made all at his pet trip of five furlongs straight, clocking 1:00.0, his third win at the distance this season. 

Champion jockey Raddesh Roman and lightweight claiming rider, Tajay Suckoo also booted home two winners apiece. 

Roman landed the second with 2-1 chance BOB THE BUILDER. Suckoo made all with 3-5 favourite NATIVE ALLIANCE, beating five-year-old maidens in the third, similarly making every post a winning one with NATIVE FLYER in the seventh. 

Roman moved to 40 wins astride LINGUIST in division two of the Dawes Memorial, five clear of Tevin Foster, who won the sixth astride DELIGHTFUL ONE, beating three-year-old maidens at seven furlongs. 

Racing continues Saturday followed by the Labour Day holiday meet, Monday, May 25.