Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
RANSOM MAN ... favourite for St. Leger. - FILE
Tomorrow's St. Leger Day 11-race programme at Caymanas Park offers carryovers in both the Pick-9 and Super-6. The Pick-9, which embraces races two to 11, has $1 million in the kitty. The Super-6 boasts a carryover of $764,364.15.
Being the more popular of the two bets, the Super-6 could well realise a payout in the region of $2 million. We look at the Super-6 embracing the last six races.
It gets under way with a straight five claiming race ($350,000 - $320,000) t be contested by 10 starters. The horses to note are THE MINISTER, EMMVEEPEE, THE BARBARIAN, FORMULA ONE and KING AL, all ideally suited to the straight.
THE MINISTER, EMMVEEPEE and THE BARBARIAN should have a battle royal for favouritism and the winner could well emerge from this trio. THE MINISTER, though not the best drawn at post position one, is ideally suited to the straight and now down in class, his chances must be rated highly from the convenient mark of 53.0kg.
Preference, however, is for another down in class contender EMMVEEPEE who was far from disgraced on a $420,000 tag in a 1100 metres race won by JACK SPARROW.
EMMVEEPEE, the reigning 'Claimer of the Year', reverts to her pet trip on this occasion and should use her speed to best advantage and prove hard to beat with favourite rider Wesley 'Callaloo' Henry aboard.
The seventh race for maiden three-year-olds over 1400 metres looks tailored for the sparingly BEAT THE DRUM, who wasn't disgraced when finishing a close third to CARIBBEAN MINISTER over 1600 metres on June 21.
The Percy Hussey-trained 3-y-o filly had every chance when challenging long-time leader GURBAN on the inside leaving the furlong pole, but failed to carry through the effort and was beaten by both CARIBBEAN MINISTER and GURBAN who renews rivalry tomorrow.
BEAT THE DRUM, with Charles Hussey again in the saddle, will be better for the run and now administered Lasix for the first time, should prove hard to beat over the reduced trip. GURBAN, the mount of champion jockey Brian Harding, should make another brave bid.
CRUISING ALTITUDE (Harding up) ran creditably last Saturday when finishing third to NATURAL SELECTOR in the Billy Pick Memorial Cup over 2000m and looks the right choice in the eighth over the circular nine course. Fleet-footed EXPLOSIVE PEAK (fit, working well) gets the nod over the progressive HOUDINI AGAIN and FLYING TIGER in the ninth race over 1100 metres for overnight allowance horses, and RANSOM MAN who romped the June 3 Digicel Derby, cannot be opposed in the 10th race, the $2.75 million Jamaica St. Leger, the season's final classic to be contested by nine three-year-olds.
The down in class KERMIT should win the 11th and final race at the expense of super fit LADY BALLARI and down in class CHOO CHOO CHOO.
SUPER-6 FANCIES
(6) EMMVEEPEE/THE MINISTER/THE BARBARIAN
(7) BEAT THE DRUM/GURBAN
(8) CRUISING ALTITUDE/CRUCIAL PRINCE CAT LEGEND
(9) EXPLOSIVE PEAK/HOUDINI AGAIN/FLYING TIGER
(10) RANSOM MAN
(11) KERMIT/LADY BALLARI/CHOO CHOO CHOO
