By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterTHIS BEING the last race meet before Christmas, betting on the exotic bets should be intense as punters seek to make a killing.
On Wednesday, the fancied horses really held their own resulting in an unusually high number of winners in both the Super-6 and Pick-9.
There were 206 correct forecasts of the Pick-9, each receiving $2,427.00, while the floodgates burst open in the Super-6, resulting in 1,338 correct forecasts of $353.00.
JRC ANNIVERSARY
Tomorrow's card will be highlighted by the commemorative race for the Jamaica Racing Commission 31st Anniversary Trophy (overnight allowance) to be contested by 10 starters over the circular nine course.
Meanwhile, the focus will as usual be on the Super-6 which starts anew with the guaranteed minimum of $250,000.
It gets under way in the fifth race with a 1500-metre race for maidens three-year-olds to be contested by 13 starters, including top contenders COZY PROSPECTOR and CORDITE.
When both horses last met over 1100 metres last Saturday, COZY PROSPECTOR in finishing a close second to PRIME FURY, had the fast-finishing CORDITE only half a length behind in third.
CORDITE TO TURN TABLES
Given the additional 400 metres of this race, I am expecting CORDITE to turn the tables, but COZY PROSPECTOR who has been a model of consistency will only go down fighting with returning champion jockey Trevor Simpson now taking the ride. If there is a horse to separate them, look no further than the lightly raced MOONLIGHT DANCER who followed up her eight-length win over this trip on October eight with a close second to CRUCIAL POINT in a subsequent race over a mile.
Next on the programme is a 3-y-o and up claiming race ($320,000 - $270,000) over 1100 metres in which CHAMPION MELODY, PRETTYPRESUMPTOUS, ABUELO, VISIONARY and SELENA MYSTIQUE are leading lights in the 15-horse field.
Although SELENA MYSTIQUE recently won over 1200 metres on a slight easier tag November 19, she should prove competitive once coming away cleanly from the number one post position. Still, the down in class trio of CHAMPION MELODY, ABUELO and PRETTYPRESUMPTUOUS have more appeal.
The choice, however, must be the three-year-old filly CHAMPION MELODY who is not only steps down in class to contest this race, but has looked real sharp in recent exercise spins.
CHAMPION MELODY led for over 600 metres when finishing fourth to ZAHBO over 1300 metres on November 15 and back in action with a mere 48.0kg, should not be beaten.
The straight specialists THE SEVENTH WAVE, BUSHY PARK RAJA, SOUTHERN DANCER and CRUCIAL TIMES should have a keen battle for top honours in the seventh race for $210,000 - $180,000 claimers over the straight five course.
THE SEVENTH WAVE, now bidding for a hat-trick of wins, won easily from the unfavourable number one post position on November 29 when contesting a $170,000 tag and although stepping up in class, is so well within himself that he could well extend his winning streak.
Preference, however, is for SOUTHERN DANCER who led in fast splits over the course on November 1 when beaten only 1 1/2 lengths by DIXIE FLYER on a $240,000 tag. The 5-y-o gelding reports on a convenient mark and should win from THE SEVENTH WAVE and CRUCIAL TIMES, who is often tardy at the start.
PRINCESS ARIZONA, who was third to SHADE OF JADE in a blanket finish over 1200 metres recently, will relish the additional 200 metres of the eighth race and should make amends at the expense of LADY FAIZAH and recent winner POLISH DANCER who will not find the distance taxing .
The ninth race for the JRC 31st Anniversary Trophy (overnight allowance) has attracted 10 starters and bearing in mind the distance (1820 metres), I am not prepared to oppose JOHNNY'S KING by virtue of his close fifth to PITTACUS in the Red Stripe Superstakes on November 8.
The form of that race has been working out beautifully, what with the third horse YOUNG FOR ALL having won his two races since and SIR MOHANDAS BABA who finished eighth also obliging.
If that wasn't enough, the Superstakes runner-up ROYAL RUN also paid tribute to the form with a close third in last Saturday's UBA Gold Cup.
Back in action with a mere 52.0kg, JOHNNY'S KING should prove too good for fellow three-year-old THE MINISTER and IDITAROD.
The closing $140,000 conditional claiming race over 1500 metres looks tailored for STARFROMTHEEAST, who caught the eye when a fast-finishing fourth, beaten only a length by stable-companion INSTRUMENTHAL over the straight five course last Saturday.
With the trip now perfect, the 8-y-o son of Wise Emissary should win from STAR OF THE MOMENT and LADY SOLO.
