CHAMPION trainer Wayne DaCosta's POWER BY LIGHT could announce himself in a big way as a derby contender tomorrow afternoon when he goes for back-to-back wins from two starts in just over two weeks.

Imported in utero, thus qualifying as a local-bred, POWER BY LIGHT debuted on Easter Monday with a routine victory at 1100 metres, clocking 1:07.0 to beat PRECISELY BABY by almost eight lengths in a three-year-old maiden event.

However, POWER BY LIGHT's first speed gallop since, a sizzling 1:13.3 for six furlongs, and DaCosta's choice of distance, nine furlongs and 25 yards, has derby-bound written all over the champion trainer's intentions.

Owned by Alex Haber, POWER BY LIGHT is well bred, sired by the American ALKE, who won four consecutive races in 2004 after being transferred to Todd Pletcher's barn. One of those victories was the Grade Three, US$100,000 Deputy Minister Handicap at Gulfstream Park, beating Breeders' Cup Sprint winner CAJUN BEAT.

A 2004 race report from Gulfstream stated: 'ALKE, with John Velazquez up, went with CAJUN BEAT right from the start. They set sensible fractions of 23.04 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.05 for the half, and then ALKE flew through the final five-sixteenths of a mile to cover six and a half furlongs on the fast main track in 1:15.80.'

POWER BY LIGHT's dam is Haber's MISS TASSY, whose sire line includes the likes of STORM CAT, NORTHERN DANCER, SECRETARIAT and BOLD RULER.

From 11 starts, MISS TASSY won three races, was second twice and had three third-place finishes, earning purse money of US$91,430.

DaCosta's decision to put POWER BY LIGHT over nine furlongs and 25 yards is not unfounded.

big plans

Pletcher, a leading American trainer who won four consecutive Eclipse Awards as outstanding Trainer of the Year, while topping the leader board in purse earnings in 2004, 2005, and 2006 - in addition to winning the 2007 Belmont Stakes with RAGS TO RICHES and 2010 Kentucky Derby with SUPER SAVER - had big plans for POWER BY LIGHT's sire, ALKE, who was sold to stand at stud in Thailand in 2010.

After his Deputy Minister victory, Pletcher was hoping ALKE would have been invited to the Dubai Golden Shaheen in the United Arab Emirates.

"Hopefully, he did enough to earn a chance out there," said Pletcher, who said he would also consider a one-mile race in Dubai for ALKE.

POWER BY LIGHT's 1:13.3 at exercise last Wednesday was a bullet work, eclipsing the 1:15.4 clocked by AVENTURA as well as LASHING FORCE's 1:16.0 that morning.

AVENTURA was third in the 2000 Guineas on Easter Monday, beaten six and a quarter length by UNCLE DONNY. LASHING FORCE disputed the lead into the lane in the 2000 Guineas and was still fifth a furlong out.

Carrying only 50.5 kilos with Dane Nelson up, POWER BY LIGHT is a banker.