By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
The grey THAT'S GOLD, ridden by Paul Ramsay for trainer Gary Subratie, outbattles NORAN BATMAN (Kerry Robinson) to win the 6th race for the Radio 2 Sprint Trophy over the straight five course at Caymanas Park on Saturday. THAT'S GOLD was a 6-5 favourite. - Michael Sloley /Freelance Photographer
ALTHOUGH THERE was no major upset, the Pick-9 which started anew on Saturday had no takers.
In the end, 15 punters with eight of nine bagged $5,326.50, while 349 with seven of nine picked up $114.50.
Mild upsets were recorded by HIGHEST CREST at 8-1 in the ninth race for maiden three-year-olds and MYBLUBELLE at 6-1 in the closing race for bottom of the barrel claimers.
On the flip side, the Pick-9 included all of six winning favourites, namely, CAT PRINCE at 6-5 in the third race, followed by a trio of golden horses, AMANDA'S GOLD at 2-1, FORMALLY GOLD at 1-2 and THAT'S GOLD at 6-5, not to mention CITY LIGHTS at 2-5 and of course, FORGOTTEN HERO at evens in the fourth running of the RJR Classic, the day's feature.
PICK-9 CARRYOVER
Given the high number of favourites, it is surprising that nobody was smart enough to corner the Pick-9, which has a carryover of the minimum $500,000 going into Friday's Emancipation Day race meet.
In my estimation, HIGHEST CREST was not difficult to catch in a race where most punters went head over heels for TO BE CONTINUED, the 6-5 favourite, and her lesser fancied stable-companion DUE RESPECT (2-1). The latter, with leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths aboard, was caught close home by the fast-finishing HIGHEST CREST under the apprentice Marklee Buchanan.
Sometimes it pays to follow the tipsters in the Track Price Plus competition at the back of the Track & Pools, especially when one of them comes up with an unusual nap selection.
The Editor, who has a good record of spotting outsiders, selected HIGHEST CREST as a banker. And top tipster The Clockman had nap selections in THAT'S GOLD and also NAVIGATOR at generous odds of 9-2 in the eighth race for the RJR News Cup over 1400 metres.
CITY LIGHTS, one of two winners for jockey Charlie Hussey and his brother Percy, turned the seventh race over the round five course for the Radio 2 Music and Sports Lifestyle Trophy confined to native bred three-year-olds into a procession from early in the straight.
Racing for the first time since December of last year and returning on lasix as well, CITY LIGHTS chased the early leader TREASURE CHEST passing the half mile before going through on the bridle leaving the 600-metre pole.
She turned for home with a commanding lead and after extending it to eight lengths a furlong out, Hussey tightened his hold allowing the Pat N Jac - Shining offspring to cruise in by seven lengths from SUPA LEI. It was simply a case of lights out for her hapless opponents.
Hussey's other winner was the three-year-old debutant CAT PRINCE in the first of the Pick-9 races, this for the TVJ Prime Time News Trophy over the straight five course.
Although not the best away in the field of six, the American-bred colt recovered in a flash to be the leader by a length from fellow debutant U.S. ONE (7-1) coming on to the main track. In the end, CAT PRINCE and U.S. ONE proved too good for the highly fancied native bred three-year-olds ZAHBO (7-5) and ROSE BUD (2-1), both soundly beaten into third and fourth places, respectively.
RJR CLASSIC
Another imported horse, FORGOTTEN HERO, also looked the part in winning the RJR Classic over 1500 metres in decisive fashion from last year's winner CAPTAIN BLIGH.
Trained and part owned by Wayne DaCosta, the American 4-y-o colt was produced by champion jockey Trevor Simpson entering the straight and after going by stable-companion WITHALLMYHEART in a jiffy, kept on strongly to win by 1 1/2 lengths from the fast-finishing CAPTAIN BLIGH who, to my mind, was given a bit too much to do (outpaced) by "Fanna" Griffiths. FORGOTTEN HERO is part-owned by Winston Kong.
MYBLUBELLE, ridden by veteran lightweight Robert Reid, turned the tables on recent conqueror MR. MICAWBER and FOREST FRESH to win the closing 1800-metre race in fine style, despite finishing lame.
At least three persons I know were sitting pretty in the Pick-9 going into this the final race, but none was able to spot MYBLUBELLE.
Indeed, all the fancied horses disappointed in the race. MR. MICAWBER (3-1) was third, the 2-1 favourite TROPICAL STAR could only manage fifth, SIR SASTRI BAHADUR and FOREST FRESH both beaten of sight, and DEALWITHIT well backed at 7-2 with Simpson up, dwelt at the start.
