Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer
I AM PAID FOR, one of two winners for trainer Welsh Soutar, is eased by jockey Clive Lynch to win the sixth race for three-year-olds by two lengths from ASTRO CRUNCH (Trevor Simpson) at Caymanas Park on Wednesday. I AM PAID FOR was a 6-5 favourite in the 1500-metre race. - PHOTOS BY IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A MAMMOTH 12-race programme is slated for Caymanas Park tomorrow and, with exotic wagers offering huge sums, notably $3.2 million carryover in the Pick-9, it is not just another card.
The Pick-9 will embrace races four to 12. The Super-6, on the other hand, starts anew with its $500,000 guaranteed minimum.
The opening Super-6 will encompass the first six races, the second the last six.
We look at the second Super-6 which gets under way in the seventh race, a maiden special for native-bred two-year-olds in which seven have been declared.
It should come down to the trio of CHRISTMAS GIFT, DIAL DIRECT and PRINCESS LULU
The Morris Powell-trained DIAL DIRECT ran encouragingly on her fifth outing August 20 when chasing home the very smart SUPER NATURAL over 1100 metres, finishing 8 3/4 lengths second.
With that performance (chased winner), DIAL DIRECT gave every indication that she is on the upgrade and with top apprentice Paul 'Country' Francis riding in consistently good form, the grey filly by Smokehouse Sam out of Call Collect is poised to fight out the finish.
SHOWS PROMISE
PRINCESS LULU, who was behind her in third that day, should also figure prominently.
But if DIAL DIRECT is beaten, the one best equipped to do so is CHRISTMAS GIFT who showed promise on her recent debut when finishing third to PRINCESS SUE over 800 metres straight.
The runner-up LAW LORD has since paid tribute to the form by winning easily last Saturday.
He finished a mere 1 3/4 lengths behind LAW LORD, and now better for the experience, this bay colt who is also by Smokehouse Sam but out of Christmas Morning, looks the right choice now minus the blinkers.
Race eight presents a five-star banker in the form of LOCHNESS DRAGON, who ran creditably (despite interference) to UNTOUCHABLE in the Joseph Ashenheim Memorial Bowl (overnight allowance) at 2000 metres on August 13.
The Percy Hussey-trained four-year-old gelding finished only 2 3/4 lengths fourth (awarded second) after being stopped a furlong out and now dropped to claiming company, looks hard to oppose with in-form Charles Hussey aboard.
SAYONARA, who finished third in a blanket finish to stable-companion CAUCHEE over 1200 metres recently, gets the nod over INCOMMUNICADO and BUSTER JACK in the ninth race over 1100 metres for three-year-olds.
Moving to the 10th, here the vastly improved NASATOL (Hussey again) who put away a good field of overnight allowance horses over the straight five course on August 6, is tipped to repeat at the expense of recent winner NATURAL PRINCE and FORGOTTEN HERO, back from a near one-year absence (Lasix administered) but working well to meet this engagement.
GOOD ENOUGH TO WIN
The last two races should be won by MAGIC DRAGON and UNIQUE SELECTION. The Percy Hussey-trained MAGIC DRAGON is among eight starters for the day's feature (high claiming) for the Cecil C. Charlton Trophy over 1300 metres.
But, having been a model of consistency and dropped in class for this race, the four-year-old son of Al's River Cat gets the nod over bang-'n-form hat-trick seeker BLOW WIND BLOW who won the Emancipation Day Trophy over the distance on August 1.
By virtue of his good third to POWER CRACKER over 1300 metres recently, UNIQUE SELECTION should be good enough to win the closing race over 1500 metres in which RED ROCK and LEGENDARY GLITZ are twin dangers.
SUPER-6 FANCIES
(7) CHRISTMAS GIFT/DIAL DIRECT
(8) LOCHNESS DRAGON
(9) SAYONARA/INCOMMUNICADO
(10) NASATOL/FORGOTTEN HERO/NATURAL PRINCE
(11) MAGIC DRAGON/BLOW WIND BLOW
(12) UNIQUE SELECTION/RED ROCK/LEGENDARY
GLITZ
