Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
MYSON, running at odds of 9-2 with champion jockey Brian Harding up, gets up in the nick of time to beat the favourite SPANISH SECRETS (Allen Maragh) in the ninth race over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park last Saturday. The winner is trained by Anthony Nunes. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
SATURDAY'S FIRST leg of the two-day Easter Racing Carnival offers a Pick-9 carryover of $1 million.
Last Saturday the outsiders LADY BALLARI and BABY RENEE combined to shut out Pick-9 players, but the Super-6 had its fair share of winners, despite a 20-1 upset by LADY BALLARI in the Dr. David 'Jack' Radix Memorial Cup feature.
This week we look at the Super-6 which embraces races five to 10. It gets under way with a circular nine race for native and imported three-year-olds in which six starters have been declared.
Despite the small field, the race should be keenly contested by the quartet of GETAWAYBOY BOY and MAJOR MAYER, along with the American-bred horses BANKER'S BULLION and LA PRESIDENTA.
Having finished fourth to RAMPAGE in the recent 2000 Guineas over 1600 metres, MAJOR MAYER looks best equipped to take the honours.
Trained by Michael McIntosh, the chestnut gelding ran above himself in the Guineas to finish fourth at odds of 99-1, having GETAWAYBOY behind in sixth place that day.
MAJOR MAYER came back with an eye-catching exercise gallop over seven furlongs last Saturday when timed in 1.28.3 by 1:14.4 for the last six furlongs and looks the right choice.
In the sixth race over the straight five course, DOUBLE BOW, who was unbeaten in his first three races before falling victim to SPANISH FLEET last time out, should rebound over this his pet trip.
Trained by Donovan Bruce, DOUBLE BOW has been administered Lasix for the first time and with leading jockey Charles Hussey now slated, this speedy gelding should account for old rival HAFIFA and recent course winner NUMERO UNO.
The seventh race for the Louis Hitchins Memorial Cup over 1600 metres will more than likely resolve itself into a straight fight between BLOW WIND BLOW (working well) and MEDIC ON BOARD, both dropped in class.
BLOW WIND BLOW looks nicely off at the weights with only 51.0kg, however, and should prove too strong MEDIC ON BOARD and hat-trick seeker CORDITE in the 12-strong field.
STEAD GOLD, having come down sufficiently in the weights and well drawn, gets the nod over ANOTHER RANKING and LADY SHARON in the eighth race over the straight five course, while RIZZI LEE and THE MINISTER, both having finished second last time, should have a battle royale for top honours in the ninth race for the City of Kingston Centenary Cup.
RIZZI LEE finished second to out-of-class ROYAL COMMAND in two middle distance races last month and is tipped to go one better.
Then take the consistent SIR CHARLES in the closing straight five race where Simpson's mount, APACHE BRAVE, looks the principal danger in a field of 14.
SUPER-6 FANCIES
5) MAJOR MAYER/GETAWAYBOY
6) DOUBLE BOW/HAFIFA
7) BLOW WIND B:OW/MEDIC ON BOARD
8) STEAD GOLD/ANOTHER RANKING
9) RIZZI LEE
10) SIR CHARLES/APACHE BRAVE
