By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer TOMORROW's Owners' Association Day programme at Caymanas Park has attracted mostly large and competitive fields.
This should test even the most knowledgeable punters in their efforts to catch the Pick-9, which starts anew with a guaranteed minimum of $500,000. On Wednesday, two lucky punters with all nine winners pocketed $795,953.50 each.
The Super-6, on the other hand, also starts anew after it was cornered by 44 punters, each receiving $28,523.00 from a $1.2 million payout. It rebounds with a guaranteed minimum of $250,000 in the kitty.
As usual, the focus is on the Super-6, which seems to be outselling the Pick-9 if the latest figures are anything to go by.
The Super-6, embracing races six to 11, gets underway with a 3-y-o maiden condition race over 1200 metres, this for the B.W. 'Bunny' Vincent plaque. Vincent is secretary of the Jamaica Racehorse Owners' Association.
Twelve starters have been declared, including JETLYN'S DRAMA who was a good second to the outsider APACHE GIRL over the straight five course last Saturday. This chestnut filly from the stables of Fernando Geddes is at home over the distance and is sure to figure seriously in the outcome.
In-form trainer Anthony Nunes has two strong contenders in JACK THE FREAK and TO BE CONTINUED, now pretty light after running well on three occasions in midsummer.
Stable jockey Shane Ellis has opted for JACK DE FREAK, who was highly-fancied to win the race won by APACHE GIRL on his debut last Saturday, but decked his rider, Richie Reid, at the start.
Still, despite the good claims of the abovementioned trio, PLATINUM QUEEN who was third to HI-JOE over 1500 metres on September 6, gets my preference. The bay filly has not only worked well but will welcome the reduced trip and based on her good second to SPIRIT over the distance on August 2 and looks the horse to beat.
RHOEL RHODEN MEMORIAL CUP
The seventh, the inaugural running of the Rhoel Rhoden Memorial Cup for native-bred two-years (maidens) over 1100 metres, looks tailored for the well forward debutante LATONIA, to be ridden by Ellis for Nunes.
The nice-looking bay filly by Footloose out of Private Number has been looking up at exercise in recent weeks, catching the eye on September 10 when galloping four furlongs in 48.3 by 35.4 upsides top class campaigner RAKKADASH, who beat her narrowly in that work.
She is definitely forward enough to win from STEREOFABULOUS, better for the recent pipeopener behind GOOD TO GO and YAHABIBI, who showed promise on her debut back in May when second to MR. DUNN.
One of the more open races on the card is the eighth for the Dennis Howell Plaque, to be contested by 13 starters (four-year-olds and up) over the straight five course.
In a race with endless possibilities, the group from which I expect the winner to emerge comprises DEBONAIR, to be ridden by champion jockey Trevor Simpson, POWER MACHINE, NAGANO RELIC, ADUKI and MOTHER OF PEARL, who has shown a particular liking for the straight five course, having won her only race at long odds over the same on May 23.
However, preference is for POWER MACHINE who had MOTHER OF PEARL behind when finishing second to out of class SAMMY MY GIRL over 1200 metres on September 13. Now 4.0kg lighter, POWER MACHINE should stave off the late-kicking DEBONAIR and MOTHER OF PEARL.
Race nine for the Dr. Ralston Feanny Memorial Trophy looks tailored for SUPA LEI, trained by many-time champion Philip Feanny, son of the man in whose memory the race is run.
SUPA LEI underlined her well being as a fast-finishing third (beaten 3 1/2 lengths) to PRINCESS CHIONESO behind a fast time (1:06.2) over the distance on September 20. She has trained well since and despite the sound claims of BADBOYBIN, LA CHICA BONITA, LADY SHAKEERA and XTRA ROYAL, who has pleased at exercise in preparation for this trophy, SUPA LEI has most appeal.
The last two races should be won by REAR ADMIRAL and BLOODY MARY. A recent winner, the Hussey trained 3-y-o colt REAR ADMIRAL represents the class horse of the field in the day's feature for the Jamaica Racehorse Owners Association Trophy over 2000 metres, even though he can expect worthwhile opposition from old rivals HAPHAZARD and IDITAROD, both of whom were behind him on September 13 over the circular nine course.
