Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer
DAL BROWN
TOMORROW'S 10-RACE programme at Caymanas Park will be highlighted by the 79th running of the Jamaica St. Leger over 2000 metres, the season's final classic.
Seven starters have been declared, among them MIRACLE MAN, AD INFINITUM and ROYAL COMMAND, the first three past the post in the June 4 Digicel Jamaica Derby over 2400 metres.
With just over a length covering them at the finish, the St. Leger promises to be an interesting contest, bearing in mind that all three were virtually heads on in the lead a furlong out, before MIRACLE MAN quickened decisively between horses to win this premier classic.
Meanwhile, with the fancied horses having held their own last Saturday, both the Pick-9 and Super-6 start anew tomorrow.
The Pick-9, to be conducted from race two to 10, offers the guaranteed minimum of $1 million, while the Super-6, which embraces races five to 10, offers $500,000. We look at the Super-6.
KEEN CONTEST
This gets under way with a $150,000 claiming race to be contested by nine starters over the circular nine course. Indications are that the race will be keenly contested as most of the runners have been enjoying good form.
These are spearheaded by the super fit UNWANTED who bids for a hat-trick of wins over this her pet trip, the recent winners SILVER WEDDING, PRIME SUSPECT and RENEE'S STAR, as well as SAID I SAID I and MAHENDRA EXPRESS who is ideally suited to the distance.
Indeed, MAHENDRA EXPRESS has beaten better in the not-too-distant past and although his recent form is not encouraging, having finished 11 lengths fifth to UNWANTED over 1600 metres on June 22, the fact that he will be ridden by champion jockey Trevor Simpson (replacing apprentice Douglas Badaloo), is reason enough to keep him on the right side.
UNWANTED, who ran on strongly to overhaul previous winner SIR ABBAS MANGAL close home in that race, truly loves the distance and the nine-year-old mare is expected to bring fitness into play and be right there at the finish. The same is true of PRIME SUSPECT who beat RAJMIR and UNWANTED by nine and a half lengths over 1800 metres on May 4, only to be narrowly beaten in two subsequent races.
On the last occasion (June 4), PRIME SUSPECT was caught and beaten a short head by SILVER WEDDING over 2000 metres.
SILVER WEDDING, who has won three of his seven races this season, returns on the convenient mark of 52.0kg and with the scales very much in his favour, gets the nod over UNWANTED and PRIME SUSPECT. In-form claiming apprentice Dal Brown again has the ride.
UNTRIED THREE-YEAR-OLDS
The sixth race over 1100 metres brings together 12 maiden and untried three-year-olds, five of whom will be racing for the first time. These include the Philip Feanny-trained SAYONARA (Brown up) who has looked well advanced at exercise, RED ROCK with Simpson riding for trainer Richard Azan and the Anthony Nunes-trained MARINERO with bang in form Trinidadian jockey Brian Harding in the saddle.
Despite the claims of the more experienced runners such as LADY POOJA and I AM NOT ORDINARY, I believe the race will be won by either MARINERO or SAYONARA. MARINERO gets the nod.
Next is an overnight allowance race to be contested by 10 starters over the round five course. With keen competition anticipated, I think the race will come down to the Wayne DaCosta pair of CRUCIAL POINT and TOTAL MOTION, as well as INSATIABLE and RAKKADASH who returns from a six-month absence in good nick.
CRUCIAL POINT is actually stepping down in class after chasing home the impressive American colt JUST SOME THOUGHTS in a fast-run 1100 metres race on June 22 when having TOTAL MOTION behind. His final time of 1:06.1 that day makes him a most dangerous opponent.
Despite his consistency, however, CRUCIAL POINT just keeps finding one too good and preference is for INSATIABLE who, though beaten into fourth place by PITTACUS in the L.C. McKenzie Memorial Trophy over 1400 metres last Saturday, will be seen to better advantage over the shorter distance of this race. In addition, he has been well trained.
The Feanny-trained WICKY WACKY, to be ridden by leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths, has looked so sharp at exercise (galloped 5 1/2F in 1:07.3 by 1:00.3) in the past fortnight, that it will take a brave punter to oppose her in the eighth race for four-year-olds and up over 1600 metres.
For Hi-five players, I would suggest NEUTRALIZER, LE CHIC, GOLCONDA and TV AD as horses to use in the next four lines.
CONFIRMING SUPERIORITY
The St. Leger, which goes without the name of the sponsors Cable & Wireless on this occasion, should see Derby winner MIRACLE MAN confirming his superiority over old rivals AD INFINITUM (working exceptionally well) and ROYAL COMMAND in the field of seven, but not by far. Florida-based Jamaican jockey Allen 'Bungo John' Maragh again has the ride. Then, take the fleet-footed KINKOTSU LIU LIU over THE SEA PRINCESS, HIGH TOWER and down in class JETLYN'S DRAMA in the closing straight five race.
SUPER-6 FANCIES
(5) SILVER WEDDING/UNWANTED/PRIME SUSPECT
(6) MARINERO/SAYONARA/I AM NOT ORDINARY
(7) INSATIABLE/CRUCIAL POINT
(8) WICKY WACKY
(9) MIRACLE MAN/AD INFINITIUM
(10) KINKOTSU LIU LIU/THE SEA PRINCESS/JETLYN'S DRAMA
