Digital One comes from behind to claim anniversary trophy

QUIETLY FANCIED at odds of 9-2, Gary Subratie’s American four-year-old filly, DIGITAL ONE, yesterday capitalised on CALIFORNIA CROWN and BOOTYLICIOUS’ speed duel to score a come-from-behind five-length win with Dane Dawkins in the SVREL 8th Anniversary Trophy at five and a half furlongs.

Determined to run topweight BOOTYLICIOUS ragged on the lead, featherweight rider Jordan Barrett hustled CALIFORNIA CROWN to make the most of a 24lb advantage, hoping to slip the field after taking over a half-mile out.

However, opening splits of 22.4 took toll on the leaders in the stretch run, BOOTYLICIOUS carrying topweight and CALIFORNIA CROWN dragged into a duel after being slowly into stride, resulting in both drifting wide off the turn.

DIGITAL ONE, an easy eight-length winner among overnight-allowance runners at six and a half furlongs last Boxing Day, improved rapidly in third position coming off the turn, accelerating against the rail in the stretch run to lead a furlong and a half out.

Though finishing lame on her right fore, DIGITAL ONE was impressive in victory, turning the tables on BOOTYLICIOUS, who had beaten her by three and a half lengths at six furlongs on December 14.

CALIFORNIA CROWN stayed on for second with the lightweight ahead of BOOTYLICIOUS, who was simply too heavy to engage CALIFORNIA CROWN in a speed duel, killing her chances of a fourth straight win since being bought back for $3 million at November’s Mixed Sale by trainer Peter-John Parsard.

There was, however, joy in the Parsards’ camp after the International Women’s Day co-feature was won by United States-bred GEOLITHIC, at odds of 10-1, going nine furlongs and 25 yards.

GEOLITHIC used her searing speed to tear away from rivals down the backstretch with Panamanian Ismael Velasquez, who had enough in reserve to take several peeks between his legs in the stretch run.

Anthony Nunes logged three winners, including 23-1 longshot, GOLDEN SYRUP in the sixth, to extend his stakes lead over champion trainer Jason DaCosta. Nunes opened his three-timer with 1-5 favourite BRAHMA BULL among three-year-old maidens in the fourth and closed the card with gate-to-wire winner SMART TRICK, a return winner after beating non-winners of two races on New Year’s Day.

Racing continues on Saturday.