By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterTHE SUPER-6 starts anew at Caymanas Park tomorrow, but not so the mushrooming Pick-9 which offers an attractive carryover of $1.3 million.
The Pick-9 survived both days of last weekend's holiday carnival, as 774 punters with seven of nine received $1,351,091.70 each on Monday's Labour Day programme. With heavy wagering expected, a payout of close to $2 million looks a real possibility. The Pick-9 will be conducted on races two to 10, the Super-6 from five to 10.
As usual, the focus is on the Super-6 which starts with the guaranteed minimum of $250,000 already in the kitty.
It kicks off with the 3-y-o and up for the Reynold "Ren" Gonzalves Memorial Trophy over 2000 metres to be contested by six starters, including top contenders BANJUHAR (Trevor Simpson), CAPTAIN BONE (Dane Nelson) and STILL A KING, no rider declared.
Despite the presence of the front running RESTLESS WARRIOR who has won three of his last four races, I think the issue will be decided among BANJUHAR, CAPTAIN BONE and STILL A KING over this particular trip.
While the imported colt CAPTAIN BONE has been taken to task at exercise by trainer Philip Feanny and BANJUHAR is not too heavy with 57.0kg in this small field, I fear they will fall victim to the lightly weighted STILL A KING who has been knocking at the door in recent races.
CLOSE FIFTH
The 6-y-o gelding from the stables of Harry Jaghai had BANJUHAR inches behind when finishing a close fifth to THE MINISTER over 1500 metres on May 15. And prior to that he was two lengths third to BANJUHAR over 1800 metres on May 1.
Today, STILL A KING enjoys an 8.5kg swing with BANJUHAR at the weights, more than sufficiently to turn the tables on his old rival especially going two turns, the route best suited to the 6-y-o son of Reputed Testimony.
THAT'S GOLD, who beat a good field quite easily over 1100 metres on April 24, is back to his happy hunting ground for the sixth race and despite the presence of recent winners THE SEVENTH WAVE, DRAMATICS and others such as ROYAL DESIRE and the fleet-footed ROYAL GUARD (Simpson up), the grey gelding should prove too strong for ROYAL GUARD, ROYAL DESIRE and THE SEVENTH WAVE in the field of 12.
ZAROHNEY, now dropped in class, has a glorious opportunity to notch a long overdue victory in the seventh race over 1100 metres. Trained by Paul Campbell, the 4-y-o filly has been fitted with the visor for this race and from the convenient mark of 50.0kg, should lead home Azel Cowie's mount FIRST TRICK and FRENCH MINISTER.
BONNIEVIEW, who showed promise on her April 28 debut behind THAT'S LIFE over 1200 metres, has been looking up at exercise since and should prove too good for ROYAL FLUSH, TIP TOP MACHINE and FIRSTLADYOFTHECITY in the eighth race for maidens over 1100 metres.
Going paces INTERNET COMMANDER, with customary pilot Charles Hussey up, gets the nod over MILLENIUM PRINCESS in the ninth race for the 'Hall of Fame' Trophy while the closing race over 1100 metres should come down to a straight fight between PACKHU and KING CHARLES, both reporting in good nick.
SUPER-6 FANCIES
5) STILL A KING/CAPTAIN BONE
6) THAT'S GOLD/ROYAL GUARD/ROYAL DESIRE
7) ZAROHNEY/FIRST TRICK/FRENCH MINISTER
8) BONNIEVIEW
9) INTERNET COMMANDER
10) PACKHU/KING CHARLES
