Jimmie, STAR Racing Writer

Champions Wayne DaCosta and Dane Nelson are expected to rebound on tomorrow's racecard after a winless spell on Saturday.

The duo appeared set to dominate the weekend's nine-race programme, but twice came out on the wrong end of photo finishes involving ROYAL LINE and GOLD RUSH.

Two other highly fancied DaCosta runners ridden by Nelson also bit the dust. Howling 3-5 favourite MOM'S SECRET finished down the track in the fourth race and DEO VOLENTE was beaten into third by 22-1 outsider NUH VEX in the seventh.

However, it will take a brave punter to even think of opposing the duo in tomorrow's opening event and the day's feature, the Ash Wednesday Trophy.

DaCosta's unbeaten United States-bred gelding, COMMANDER ONE, is a money-back favourite to romp the first at 1500 metres with Nelson after destroying rivals in two sprint events.

It's useless to even consider another horse as COMMANDER ONE is definitely out of class and headed for stakes company.

BLAST THEM AWAY is also another money-back DaCosta runner, having only lost two races in nine starts, both to Horse of the Year SAINT CECELIA.

With back-to-back 1:06.0 bullet gallops over five and a half furlongs, BLAST THEM AWAY, similar to stablemate COMMANDER ONE, should be a lonely winner.

DaCosta should also meet I'M A BELIEVER in the winners' enclosure after the third event at 1000 metres straight.

Dick Cardenas is astride I'M A BELIEVER who debuted with a third-place run behind Anthony Nunes' runaway winner, ROCK UNION, on February 2.

ROCK UNION posted a smart 1:00.2 and appears classic bound. I'M A BELIEVER chased Nunes' runner into the lane before the class kicked in. DaCosta's runner strode out of the straight Friday morning and returns treated with Lasix tomorrow.

The roan gelding is speedy and is expected to get off the mark at the expense of the highly touted debutant, LADY SHAVRANI, from Gary Subratie's barn.

Meanwhile, four-time champion jockey Omar Walker, who capitalised on Nelson's blank day in the saddle to race three clear in the riders' standings on 14 winners, could land a four-timer tomorrow - RAISE A RUCKUS, AGAKHAN, EMERGENCE and CASH TALKS.

Walker looks good aboard RAISE A RUCKUS in a rematch with DaCosta MY FRIEND LUCY after turning back the filly at 1400 metres on January 26.

MY FRIEND LUCY gets a nine-pound swing in her favour but the distance is increased by a half- furlong, a big plus in RAISE A RUCKUS' favour after easily stalking and overpowering the filly in the stretch run on January 26.