PUNTERS ARE already queuing up for a hectic betting weekend at Caymanas Park.Last week's 13-race card proved much too difficult for exotic bet lovers and as such two mouth-watering carryovers are up for grabs on tomorrow's 10-race card.
The popular Hi-Five has climbed to $1,298,536.20 as no one was lucky enough to nab it in four tries.
THIS IS WAR at 151-1 also ensured that the Pick-6 remained alive and it now stands at a whopping $1,818,382.95. Both exotic bets are expected to go up significantly tomorrow when the big spenders empty their pockets.
Our focus will be on the Pick-6 which runs from races 5-10.
The fifth, for the claiming group $260,000-$240,000 over 1500m, looks a straight fight between LADY ISIS with hot apprentice Marklee Buchanan aboard and HAPHAZARD.
Up in class, LADY ISIS won handsomely over 1820 metres on January 15 on a $210,000 claiming tag and $260,000 should hold no terrors for the seven-year-old mare. After that impressive run she came back and blew away stable companion GILNOCK at exercise on Tuesday morning. The latter, running on a $390,000 tag, is the favourite for tomorrow's first race. LADY ISIS will thus be hard to beat.
HAPHAZARD, however, looks to be rounding into his best form after a lacklustre 2004 and with jockey Wilbert Gobay on a high following his 151-1 upset victory last week he could get the Winchester McIntosh-trained gelding into the winners' enclosure for the first time in more than a year. The six-year-old gelding was one-paced on January 22 over 1820m but he is at his lowest level ever and the conditions are right for a good run.
Do not oppose the well-bred SOUTHSIDE in the sixth event, the Mercury Sprint over 1000m straight. By Royal Minister-Ringleader, SOUTHSIDE has beaten the highly thought of MIRACLE MAN at exercise and this event should just be an afternoon stroll for the Billy Williams-trained three-year-old colt.
SUPERIOR CLASS
KING AL should use his superior class to put it across last week's record time winner FLYING TIGER in the seventh over 1000m straight. FLYING TIGER was comfortable in blinding splits of 22.2, 44.4 last week but this open allowance group has proven to be his graveyard in the past and tomorrow should be the same. Expect KING AL to race in close to the pace for the first 800m before mounting a decisive challenge in the last furlong.
The eighth race is a knotty as they come. There is little or no form to recommend any of the 14 runners and it may take a combination of three or four to come up with the winner.
FIRSTLADYOFTHECITY, CATCHAFIRE and ROMANTIC WAY should be there when the race is being decided. The first has top apprenctive Paul Francis in the saddle, CATCHAFIRE is training well and ROMANTIC WAY is the pick at the handicaps.
High-flying CRUISING ALTITUDE has it all to do in the day's feature, the Bob Marley Memorial Trophy over 1600m.
The Anthony Nunes-trained colt has been lonely at the finish line in his past two starts and seem headed for better things. This is a step up on those last two wins, however, and he will now have to contend with the pace of RISTO CAT and WIMBLEDON who will be coming best of all at the end.
RISTO CAT is a tough frontrunner and should be good enough to take the lead and hold off the late closer WIMBLEDON. Last time out RISTO CAT lost out in a close battle with HEARTOFAMAVERICK and the latter went to overnight allowance company on January 22 and won easily.
The closing event looks tailor-made for GALAXY GIRL. She won first time out at this level last November and should prove too classy for SELECT PRINCESS and SEA PRINCESS.
PICK-6 SELECTIONS
(5) HAPHAZARD/LADY ISIS
(6) SOUTHSIDE
(7) KING AL/ROYAL MALICE
(8) ROMANTIC WAY/CATCHAFIRE
(9) RISTO CAT/WIMBLEDON
(10) GALAXY GIRL/SEA PRINCESS
