FRANCIS ... Rides Latonia
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
PICK-9 PLAYERS will be looking forward to testing the waters at Caymanas Park tomorrow, as the popular exotic bet offers an attractive carryover of $604,046.10.
With betting expected to be brisk as a result, a payout in excess of $1 million looks a real possibility. Following notable upsets by ANYTHING ELSE (15-1) and THAT'S GOLD (13-1), the Pick-9 saw 23 punters with seven of nine claiming $3,426.50 each and should pose another big challenge for punters.
Meanwhile, the second Super-6 last Saturday was caught by a lucky punter who received a whopping $577,588.00 for his efforts. As a result there is no carryover, but this bet is so popular that it hardly needs a carryover to return huge winnings.
Tomorrow's focus, as usual, will be on the Super-6 which embraces races six to 11.
It gets underway with a restricted allowance IV (non winners of three) over 1200 metres for four-year-olds and up, to be contested by 13 starters. Despite the large field, the race, from all indications, should resolve itself into a straight fight between the talented four-year-olds EPICTATUS and the filly AERO COMMANDER.
Preference is for the bay gelding EPICTATUS who failed in his bid for the hat-trick on February 14 when finishing a close second to rejuvenated COURT CASE over the circular nine course.
Trained by Anthony Nunes, the son of Domino Jack has worked impressively since, galloping five furlongs in an eye popping 58.4 last Sunday morning. With the shorter trip to his advantage, EPICTATUS represents a banker on the Super-6. Last year's 1000 Guiness winner AERO COMMANDER (subsequently disqualified by the JRC for having returned a positive test) looks best of the rest in present company.
Next on the programme is the valuable Thornbird Stakes (1000 Guineas Trial) for native bred three-year-old fillies, this over a distance of 1400 metres.
Eight have been declared, including LATONIA, SEGA and SEATTLE SUE, the trio from which the winner should emerge.
REVISED WEIGHTS
The Percy Hussey-trained SEGA had SEATTLE SUE behind in second when they last met in the Hot Line Stakes over 1200 metres on February 21, a race in which FLYWITHME finished seven lengths third. At the revised weights, Philip Feanny's SEATTLE SUE enjoys a 5.5kg swing with SEGA and over the additional furlong, it should be pretty close between them.
I am inclined to give SEGA the edge as this filly has shown marked improvement this season, winning the Eight Thirty Sprint over the straight five course on January 31 and the Hot Line Stakes on February 21, both with four-time champion Charles Hussey aboard.
SEGA should welcome the longer distance and is sure to run well. However, is she good enough at this stage to humble the more accomplished LATONIA?
The Nunes-trained filly is out for the first time since finishing fourth to DISTICTLY IRISH in the $2 million Jamaica Lottery Company 2-Y-O Stakes last Boxing Day and having caught the eye at exercise in preparation for this race, galloping six furlongs in a brisk 1:15.0 last Sunday morning, looks the one to beat, especially with champion apprentice Paul Francis utilising his 2.0kg claiming allowance.
One of the more open races on the card is the eighth (claiming $260,000 - $230,000) to be contested by 12 starters over 1400 metres. The main hopefuls in the 12-strong field are fleet-footed DIGITAL, PATAS DE FUEGO, MR. VIGOROUS, PROCEEDACCORDINGLY, SIR ABBAS MANGAL and BOUND FOR GLORY.
DIGITAL has good speed and if able to outsprint STRAIGHT SIX and MR. VIGOROUS in the backstretch, she can prove equal to the task, having notched her last win in post to post fashion over a mile last Boxing Day.
FITTEST HORSE
After careful examination, I believe victory will go to the fittest horse in the field BOUND FOR GLORY who after winning over 1200 metres on January 17, has finished second in his past two races, the more recent to out-of-class DR. R.S.F. in a fast-run straight five race on March 3.
BOUND FOR GLORY, who is perfectly at home over the distance, should win from DIGITAL and SIR ABBAS MANAGAL who was narrowly beaten by CRIMSON MAGIC in the mile and quarter run for the Alty Armond Memorial Cup on February 28.
SEEINGISBELIEVING, well drawn at post position 13, is not too high in the handicaps with 57.0kg to lead over CALL TO ARMS, LADY SOLO and SWEET FUH SO in the ninth race for $140,000 claiming over the straight course.
When last venturing over the distance on December 13, the 7-y-o horse finished only a length third to KING OF THE BAND. A similar effort here should see him safely home, as he raced close up for a long way behind SUPREME POWER in his subsequent race over 1400 metres on February 28.
Race 10, the Prince Consort Guineas Trial Stakes over 1400 metres, should see GOOD TO GO (working well) getting the better of the lightweighted SUPREMELYSATISFIED and CRUCIAL POINT in a field of 11, while they all have RESTLESS PIRATE to beat in the closing straight five race following his close second to LUCKI PLUCKI over the course on February 11.
RESTLESS PIRATE is all of 6.0kg better off with LUCKI PLUCKI and should turn the tables. Also expected to run well are the course specialists BUSHY PARK RAJA and CHUCKY.
SUPER-6 FANCIES (races 6 to 11)
1) EPICTATUS
2) LATONIA/SEGA
3) BOUND FOR
GLORY/DIGITAL/SIR ABBAS MANGAL
4) SEEINGISBELIEVING/CALL
TO ARMS/LADY SOLO
5) GOOD TO GO/SUPREMELYSATISFIED
6) RESTLESS PIRATE/LUCKI PLUCKI/BUSHY PARK RAJA
