FOLLOWING the bold statement by Anthony Nunes on New Year’s Day when he posted an opening day treble of winners, the champion trainer responded with a triple of his own on the following raceday, Saturday January 3.

DaCosta, just off winning the trainer’s title for eight consecutive years and 14 times overall, scored with Seeking My Dream, Striking Distance and Rio Cobre. Seeking My Dream and Rio Cobre are owned by Derrick Smith. All three winners were ridden by Shamaree Muir.

“It is another year and with it comes a new set of circumstances, different approaches and changes which have to be made. The main objective though is to win races for my owners and getting three winners so early in the year provides a good foundation on which to build. I am very pleased with the three winners and the positive effect it has on the stable,” the champion trainer told the Complete Racing Guide.

A major area of discussion towards the end of the 2104 season was which jockey DaCosta would choose to be his stable rider following the departure of Panamanian Dick Cardenas. Based on how the champion trainer has chosen riders on his horses since Cardenas left, it would appear that apprentice Shamaree Muir is the jockey of choice.

“Shamaree (Muir) is riding well and is developing his riding skills but I have not really decided fully on who is to be the stable jockey, if indeed, there is going to be a stable rider.

“Right now my approach is to find the best available rider to partner my horses and win races, DaCosta said.

As to winning the trainers’ title for a record 15 times, DaCosta was very non-committal.

“I certainly will be trying my best. A lot will depend on the progress the youngsters, the three-year-olds, make and how they perform in the Classic races. I have some good up-and-coming ones (horses) in my barn at present, so we will see how things pan out later in the year,” DaCosta said, adding there is still a lot of time left and a lot of races to be run.