It was 12-1 against US-bred mare Da Queen Bee from the barn of Byron Davis racing for the ninth occasion with only a recent fourth place to show for her previous efforts. Confidently piloted by Jordan Barrett, being held up off the pace, the five-year-old chestnut progeny of Bee Jersey (USA), sprinted clear inside the last furlong to win the seven-furlong opener by eight lengths.

Race two signalled the start of a very productive day for the high-powered outfit of four-time and leading 2026 conditioner Jason DaCosta. Three-year-old chestnut colt Novio (USA), whose intended debut on August 25 last year was aborted at the start due to an injury, was bet at 2-1 for the six-furlong gallop.

Slow to realise what was required, but having tremendous scope, the massive American thoroughbred specimen, guided by Tevin Foster, arrived in the final strides to better another importee, Who I Am (USA). Novia (USA) won by a neck to open a Dacosta four-timer. To say there will be more successes for this colt in the near future is to state the obvious.