Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
PRINCE OF LAW, one of two winners for jockey Clive Lynch and trainer Desmond Shand, romps the eighth race for maiden three-year-olds as the 4-5 favourite at Caymanas Park on Wednesday. Lynch and Shand had earlier teamed up to win the fifth race with DIAMOND EXPRESS. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
AFTER BEING caught for three consecutive racedays, the Pick-9 was back to its old tricks at Caymanas Park on Wednesday, surviving the nine-race programme to put smiles on the faces of the promoters.
The carryover to tomorrow stands at $1 million.
With punters having the measure of the Pick-9 in recent weeks, CTL's executive manager of OTB, Donald Tankoy, disclosed yesterday that the company has paid out over $6 million in Pick-9 winnings to punters between January 14 and 28.
While CTL is at a disadvantage when punters embark on a Pick-9 winning streak, seeing that the company is forced to put up $1 million each raceday and sales not reaching that level, Tankoy noted that the recent streak has improved sales.
SALES
Despite a low-key midweek meet on Wednesday, Pick-9 sales topped the $1.1 million mark, the best it has been with no carryover from a previous meet.
Tomorow's Pick-9 will embrace all nine races on the card, while the Super-6 will be conducted from races four to nine. We look at the Super-6 as usual.
It gets underway with a $160,000 claiming race over 1800 metres to be contested by seven starters, including the recent winner SIR MOHANDAS BABA who won like an out-of-class horse over 1700 metres when leading home HEAD OVER HEELS and MYBLUBELLE by 4 1/2 lengths.
Although HEAD OVER HEELS and MYBLUBELLE will renew rivalry on improved terms at the weights, SIR MOHANDAS BABA looks to have the beating of this class now and should win from HEAD OVER HEELS, who enjoys a 7.0kg swing at the weights and is poised to get closer. Speedy RED I led at a clip on January 21 when finishing third to TV AD over 1500 metres and with the trip reduced for the fifth race, she should take a lot of catching with in-form Wesley Henry aboard.
I have a hunch that she will be caught by SHE'S A MAVERICK, despite the fact she was well behind her in eighth place on January 21. Prior to that SHE'S A MAVERICK proved competitive when finishing a close third to CONCORDE over 1300 metres and with the stables of Desmond Shand in good form, the five-year-old mare should win from RED I and FOREVER SUNSHINE. RISING MOON has a glorious chance of notching an overdue win when he takes on seven opponents in the sixth race over 1100 metres. Well drawn on the outside of the field, the 4-y-o gelding seems a cut above present company, but his progress has been thwarted by a tardy habit at the start.
RISING MOON reports in good nick and only needs to be alert at the start to put away WILD SIDE and PRINCESSJACQUELINE, both fit animals.
HARD TO BEAT
The American colt YA JUGEY (working well) steps down in class to contest the seventh race and after finishing third to MY COLLATERAL in a recent 2000-metre trophy race, will prove hard to beat over 1400 metres.
His main rivals in the nine-strong field are old rival NO TEAR, who has also lowered her sights following a fourth place finish to MY COLLATERAL, and stable-companion FROMRUSSIAWITHLOVE.
SPYRIT won so impressively over the straight five course in fast time (57.4) last Saturday that she could well upstage her former stable-companion QUEEN AIR (well prepared) in the eighth race again over the straight.
Although assisted by a following wind, hence her fast time (behind splits of 23.1, 45.4), SPYRIT, who was claimed out of that race, steps up in class pretty light and is just preferred to QUEEN AIR, to be ridden by four-timer champion Charles Hussey who rode Spyrit last Saturday. The closing race over 1820 metres for overnight allowance horses should see ALPHA LUPA (will love the distance) getting the better of BANJUHAR (knocking at the door) and the front running CHOSEN ONE, who will have to be caught.
SUPER-6 FANCIES
4) SIR MOHANDAS BABA/HEAD OVER HEELS
5) SHE'S A MAVERICK/RED I/FOREVER SUNSHINE
6) RISING MOON/WILD SIDE
7) YA JUGEY/NO TEAR
8) SPYRIT/QUEEN AIR
9) ALPHA LUPA/BANJUHAR/ CHOSEN ONE
