As tough as nails
Although he may not be the force he once was, trainer Wayne DaCosta believes his eight-year-old dark bay gelding Perfect Neighbour still has all the credentials to compete effectively at the top level.
This comment came after the Natural Selection — Desperate Housewife offspring produced one of his usual strong late surges to win the top-rated Open Allowance event at Caymanas Park on Wednesday (August 15, 2018).
Ridden by Omar Walker and going off as the 3-5 favourite, Perfect Neighbour dispelled the wear and tear of his years by winning the three-year-old and upward event by a length and a half in a driving finish. Perfect Neighbour ran nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m) in 1:56.1 with splits of 26.0 x 50.2 x 1:14.4 and 1:40.4.
“He [ Perfect Neighbour] is eight years old. I mean, you find very few horses at eight years performing at their peak, and for sure he is an exception as he is tough as nails and he always gives of his best.
“Right now he is sound and we will take it from there. Well, he is back in the top class now and so he is going to meet the big horses again going long, but he has a chance. so let’s see where we go from here on,” DaCosta told the Supreme Racing Guide.
Perfect Neighbour broke well when the starter pushed the button. but had to settle in sixth position in the seven-horse field for most of the way as Jamai Raja (Mellisa Ward) took the field around the Club House turn and down the backstretch, tracked by Drummer Boy (Gary Richards) and Lightning Lily (Oneil Mullings).
Perfect Neighbour began to get closer to the leaders at the half mile (800m) when he came down into third spot, and as soon as the field turned for home, he was already alongside Lightning Lily in a manacing frame of mind.
From there on it was just Perfect Neighbour, as the far-striding gelding went on to score his second win for the season from eight starts. Lightning Lily finished second with Uncle Frank (Anthony Thomas) third and Jamai Raja fourth.
“Good race; he was allowing them weight all around. It was a workmanlike performance. He sat off the pace early and when Omar [Walker] asked him to run at the half mile, he quickly joined up with the leaders and just outstayed them,” DaCosta analysed the race.
