Ainsley Walters, Staff Reporter
PECKUS OUT, ridden by champion non-claiming apprentice Paul Francis, sweeps past PRIOR PARK (left) with Percy Williams and BULLSEYE (right), ridden by Wesley Henry, to win Saturday's 1500-metre eighth race at Caymanas Park. - CARLINGTON WILMOT/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
IT'S THE hottest and most controversial topic at Cayamanas Park these days, the Trevor Simpson-Brian Harding showdown for the 2005 jockeys' crown.
Tomorrow's mid-week meet will be no different and after Saturday's thrilling display by both riders, who each won two races, fireworks are expected on the 10-race card with Harding on 72 winners, one ahead of reigning champion Simpson.
With the Super-6 and Pick-9 offering a combined $1.5m in guaranteed carryovers, punters will have to be careful and not rule out either of the rival jockeys as happened in Saturday's 10th race, which Trinidadian Harding won at odds of 10-1 aboard SAMMY MY GIRL.
The Pick-9 starts at the 1400-metre second race in which Harding will partner the ante-post favourite OVER DRAFT for trainer Richard Donaldson.
Super-6 players can look to the Trinidadian in the eighth at 1000 metres straight aboard Kenneth Mattis' TRUE SENSATION.
Not to be outdone, Simpson could land KERMIT at a good price for Pick-9 players at 1200 metres in the fourth as well as the two-year-old RAMPAGE for Super-6 bettors in the sixth at 1400 metres.
NO MATCH
OVER DRAFT was no match for RELOAD two Saturdays ago, finishing 16 lengths behind the out-of-class, runaway winner. However, the four-year-old maiden filly faces her weakest field ever at the right distance and should prove too strong inside the stretch run, having finished ahead of her main rivals in recent races.
KERMIT is down in class with Simpson after a brave run behind MOZURI, TITOR and PRIME FURY.
Simpson tried matching speedy TUTOR on the lead that afternoon but the effort took its toll on KERMIT, who led and then tried pressing his quicker rival into the lane at 1100 metres.
TUTOR quickened away from KERMIT inside the final furlong but had nothing in reserve when down-in-class MOZURI came calling and had to settle for second, two-and-a-half lengths ahead of fourth-place KERMIT.
Returning a rung down the Claiming ladder, KERMIT can keep a bit just off expected leaders WHITE WATER and TOCUMEN before making his move leaving the three-furlong point to get first run on expected favourite DR. R S F, who has plunged two classes down but looks a bit suspect.
The champion jockey was let down by 2-5 RAMPAGE on September 28, seeing nothing but the back end of DANCING SAM for 1000 metres round. However, Azan's runner took out stablemate ROYAL COMMAND at exercise last Friday morning, clocking 1:01.0 on the round and must be the horse to beat in the sixth at 1400 metres.
Harding won't take Simpson's double without replying and after being run out of it aboard TRUE SENSATION last time out by PRINCESS JACQUELINE, should make amends in the eighth at 1000 metres straight.
Mattis' three-year-old filly gets an easier task this time around and should outbattle JEDI ROCKET as well as old rival DIAMOND KING.
PICK-9 AND SUPER-6
OVER DRAFT
BULLET TRAIN / LAW LORD
KERMIT / DR R S F
FROMRUSSIAWITHLOVE / PADDY'S STORM
RAMPAGE
QUIZAS ORO
TRUE SENSATION / JEDI ROCKET
MIRACLE MAN
NAVAHO TRAIL.
