By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterBOTH THE Pick-9 and Super-6 start anew at Caymanas Park tomorrow and with the yule season fast approaching, there should be increased betting activity in so far as these exotic bets are concerned.
The Pick-9 will embrace all nine races and the Super-6 from the fourth to the ninth. Incidentally, six punters with all nine winners won $520,156.50 each in Wednesday's Pick-9.
Tomorrow, the focus will be on the Super-6 which gets under way with the CTL Stable Riders' Race (claiming $140,000) over 800 metres straight to be contested by 15 starters.
The one to beat must surely be KAYDENE who has an enviable record over the straight. The speedy mare, to be ridden by Richard Azan's exercise rider D. Kaye, was beaten a length by TREASURE CHEST in a blanket finish over the round five course on October 4, but now back over her favourite course, should win easily from GRAND BAZAAR and SUZIE'S GIFT.
Next on the Lotto Day programme is a Restricted Allowance IV (non winners of three) in which the sparingly raced BROTHER DANIEL, to be ridden by leading all-time jockey Winston "Fanna" Griffiths, looks the one to beat.
The useful four-year-old colt returns from a 14-month respite to contest the Lotto 'Fun Run' race over 1200 metres, but despite the lengthy absence has had a long and steady preparation under the guidance of his new trainer Wayne DaCosta, galloping five and a half furlong in 1:08 on October 18 and five furlongs on the round course in 1:00.1 as recently as Monday morning.
With his preparation complete, BROTHER DANIEL who was competitive in overnight allowance company when last raced over a year ago, should outclass main rivals QUICK MEDIC and UNFINISHEDSYMPHONY, both fit animals.
Race six, Division II of the Stable Riders race over the straight course, looks tailored for THE RHYTHM DOCTOR who won a similar race for exercise riders last year.
The seven-year-old mare chased FIRST TRICK at close range to the last furlong over the straight five course on September 10, eventually finishing five lengths fifth. With the trip reduced and the opposition not as fierce, THE RHYTHM DOCTOR should win from SILVER STREAK and OBEAHMAN.
LOTTO APPRECIATION DAY SPRINT
Race seven, the Lotto Appreciation Day Sprint for native bred maiden two-year-olds, should see the well forward debutants DISTINCTLY IRISH and RUN PAPA RUN along with the experienced SHARAPOVA in contention at the finish.
Trained by many-time champion Philip Feanny, DISTINCTLY IRISH is a bay colt by Irish Quest out of the 1990 Derby winner Distinctly Native which makes him a half brother to this year's Derby and Guineas winner A KING IS BORN.
Last Thursday he caught the eye in a round five exercise spin in 1:01.1. He looks more forward than Dennis Lee's RUN PAPA RUN, a bay colt by Footloose out of Run Marisa Run, making him a half brother to the likely Superstakes favourite ROYAL RUN. All in all, DISTINCTLY IRISH should get off the mark right away.
The last two races should be won by ZAHBO who was narrowly beaten by REAL RISK in the recent Air Jamaica Trophy over 1300m and POLISH STAR who gets the right company in the closing race over 1500 metres. Their respective dangers are the imported filly BYABOOK who was a close third to HEDIA'S PROSPECT on her recent debut over the straight, and BRAVADO in the closing race.
