Pleased with prep runs by Come Dance With Me, Alacrann, says trainer Nunes

AFTER finishing first and third respectively in the prestigious Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes last Boxing Day, Alacrann and Come Dance With Me both returned last Saturday for their first race of the season, with the former competing at the Overnight Allowance level and the latter in a Restricted Stakes event.

The races provided an opportunity to assess the progress of both horses and they responded with notable performances. Trainer Anthony Nunes and jockey Dane Nelson are satisfied ahead of the 1000 Guineas (fillies) and 2000 Guineas (colts and geldings) scheduled over the Easter weekend on April 4 and 6.

Champion two-year-old filly Come Dance With Me (Blue Pepsi Lodge - Soca Dancer) finished third behind the progressing Ali Baba and Dripping In Gold in a time of 1:18:3 minutes in the 1,300-metre event.

"Both horses ran well. Both were short of work but I had to run them to see where they are at the moment," Nunes said.

Nelson said that Come Dance With Me will benefit from the pipe-opener.

"She needed that run as she was not stretching out the way I wanted her to, but she has pace and speed and will be ready for the 1,000 Guineas. She has raced four times against male horses and will face off against fillies for the first time in the Guineas, and if ready will be hard to beat," Nelson said.

Meanwhile, overall champion two-year-old from last season, Alacrann (Traditional - Maria's Appeal) was the more impressive of the two. The chestnut colt made up 17 lengths from the half-mile to finish sixth by two lengths behind Double The Honey going over 1,200 metres.

"Alacrann ran against older horses in the Overnight Allowance Company and got beaten by around two to three lengths, which I thought was good.

"He closed well the way we wanted him to and I hope that he comes out of the race in good shape," Nunes told the Complete Racing Guide.

Nelson said that was an impressive run by the chestnut colt.

"To finish so close behind seasoned older horses was very good for a three-year-old running for the first this year. He ran well, as we were very far off the pace leaving the 800-metre pole and he was finishing like a runaway train.

'I thought the journey was a little too short as well," Nelson noted.