Trainer Anthony ‘’Baba’’ Nunes has announced that Crown Chaser, this year’s Jamaica Derby champion, will be given a well-deserved break before being prepared for the prestigious Grade One Jamaica Cup on November 9.

Crown Chaser, ridden by Shane Ellis, came from behind runners to beat Run Julie Run and Captain Sparrow by half-length in the Jamaica Derby (12 furlongs or 2,400m) on August 6. Crown Chaser won in a time of 2:38.0 (23.3 x 48.4 x 1:17.1 x 1:42.2 x 2:11.3).

Nunes explained that Crown Chaser prefers distance races and he is eligible for Overnight Allowance races due to his Derby win. Nunes plans to enter
Crown Chaser in the in Errol “Big Sub” Subratie Overnight Allowance contest on October 19 as a prep run for the Jamaica Cup over 9 ½ furlongs (1,900m).

“I had a choice to make where it was to run him [Crown Chaser] back in about three to four weeks from the Derby in an Overnight Allowance race going 9 and 25 because the trip is perfect and then have about 10 weeks to the Jamaica Cup as a prep run,” Nunes said.

“Having discussed with the owners, we only want to run him once before the Jamaica Cup or we run three weeks in the Errol ‘Big Sub’ Subratie, an Overnight Allowance race, prior to the Jamaica Cup and give him the 10-week layoff. So we really don’t have a lot of options, to be honest.

“So right now, we’ve chosen to give him the time to take a deep breath, just work him nice and slow in the mornings, just to keep him to a certain level of happiness and health. And then we’ll start ranking him.

“Maybe by the end or the middle of September, we will start striding him again. And then aim towards giving him a run in that Overnight Allowance [Errol ‘Big Sub’ Subratie] race on October 19, three weeks before the Jamaica Cup and then hopefully we’ll have him right for the Jamaica Cup again,” Nunes further stated.

With his thrilling win in the Jamaica Derby, Crown Chaser has become the first horse to secure a coveted spot in the ultra-rich Mouttet Mile (invitational), boasting a staggering US$250,000 purse.

The highly anticipated event is set to take place on December 7, featuring the best of the best over a distance of one mile. Last year’s Mouttet Mile was won by American-bred
Rough Entry and six imported horses have already shown interest in this year’s event.

Nunes acknowledged that the Mouttet Mile has become more competitive with the inclusion of imported horses. He believed that Crown Chaser, being a three-year-old, is improving and has the potential to perform well in the Caribbean’s richest single purse event.

“The Mouttet Mile now has attracted a lot of imported horses and with the up in the purse money, I imagine that the horses that are being imported are going to be even bigger and better than, say, Rough Entry.

“So, you know, it’s going to be a hard task for him [Crown Chaser], but I think he’s a three-year-old that’s improving. He’s a big, strong colt and usually at the back end of the year these three-year-olds get stronger and better. I’m sure he will run a creditable race when that time comes,” Nunes said.

Nunes ranked Crown Chaser’s Derby win very highly, as he has won the Jamaica Derby six times before. He saddled Terremoto in 1998, Technomoto in 2011, Relampago in 2014, Orpheus in 2016, and Supreme Soul in 2019 — all ridden by Ellis.

Nunes acknowledged the dedication of his team and the owners in making these wins possible. “I mean, each of them [my Derby winners] have been very different, to be honest. Obviously, Derby is ranked very high in the career of a trainer and I’ve been blessed to have really good owners that allow us to buy really good horses, and I have a really good horse team. I mean, this has been going on from I won my first derby in 1998.

“So, you know, we have had, obviously, the players have changed, but the work ethic and just the goal of everyone wanting to win a Jamaica Derby has always been a mainstay of the Nunes’ stable. So, you know, I’m very fortunate. These guys are willing to put in the work. As I said, the owners are willing to put forward the money. And we’re blessed along the way to get six Derby winners,” Nunes said.

Nunes said that his charges Captain Sparrow, who finished third in the Derby, and
King Piye, who was sixth in the race, are expected to run in the Winston Griffiths OD Classic on September 8.

“King Piye came out of the race tired. He had gone 10 furlongs, 9 ½, and 12 furlongs, and so we expected he was going to be tired. He got the longest rest out of everybody as he’s back out now and cantering slowly. So he was tired. Obviously, I’m going to aim him towards the Winston ‘Fanna’ Griffiths in September.

“And it is the same with Captain Sparrow. He wasn’t tired. He actually was very much like Crown Chaser. Came out very happy, full of himself. He was back at the track on Saturday morning after the Derby as well. And all seems to be well with him. All being well, he would also run in the Winston Griffiths,” Nunes said.