Anthony Nunes

Leading Derby contender JUNIOR MINISTER collapsed and died after an early morning exercise gallop at Caymanas Park on Monday, ending a brief but eventful racing career.

The three-year-old bay colt by Coded Warning out of the Peacemaker mare Peace Line, who was part-owned and trained by Anthony 'Baba' Nunes, was being prepared for the June 19 Jamaica Derby when he suffered a massive heart attack at the end of a 10-furlong gallop.

According to Nunes, JUNIOR MINISTER and stable-companion PRINCE ROHAN, another Derby aspirant, had just completed the same work, both coming the last mile in 1:46.3 (easy) when JUNIOR MINISTER collapsed under jockey Shane Ellis at the 5 1/2-furlong point of the course and died shortly after.

Nunes said losing JUNIOR MINISTER in such untimely fashion was a big setback, coming as it did leading up to the Derby.

"It's always hard to take when one loses a good horse like Junior Minister, but I guess that's the nature of horse racing ... expect the unexpected", said Nunes, who added that he will run both the recent Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) runner-up PRINCE ROHAN and MARGIN CALL in the richest-ever Derby.

best of luck

Nunes co-owned JUNIOR MINISTER with Trevor Dunkley Jr. who was unavailable for comment.

The trainer is not having the best of luck with his three-year-olds this season. His highly thought of colt SPORTS STAR has proved difficult to train and missed both the 2000 Guineas and the Lotto Classic due to sore shins. And his best three-year-old filly, WILD TRADITION, also suffered a setback after winning two races from as many starts early in the season.

JUNIOR MINISTER too has had his share of bad luck. After passing the post first by 5 1/4 lengths in a 3-y-o maiden race over 7 1/2 furlongs on March 6, he was disqualified and placed last for causing interference to the rank outsider INDY QUEEN at the 600-metre point.

Subsequently, he was highly fancied to win the May 29 Lotto Classic, only to be hindered when finding his best strides approaching the final bend, eventually finishing third to LIFEISJUSFORLIVING.

JUNIOR MINISTER scored only once from 10 career starts with total stakes of $1.5 million. His only victory came on April 28 over 7 1/2 furlongs, scoring by 8 3/4 lengths in a fairly good time (1:33.4).