The new batch of apprentice riders who graduated from the Jockeys' School in a passing out ceremony on the grounds of the Jamaica Racing Commission, Winchester Road, on Tuesday evening. Front row (from left): Akeem Grant, Delroy Beharie, Javour Simpson, Du'von Litchmore, Carlton Malcolm, Oral Bennett, Omeilo Francis and Jason Simpson. Standing (from left): Sandre Ridley, Lenroy Collins, Harriston Lewis, Kevin Blake, Rayan Wilson, Omar Walker, Andre Martin and Everton Bennett. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
TOMORROW'S 10-RACE programme at Caymanas Park offers a Pick-9 carryover of $1 million, while the Super-6 starts anew with a guaranteed minimum of $500,000.
The Super-6, which was caught by two punters on Wednesday, each receiving $399,744.00, will embrace races five to 10; the Pick-9 races two to 10. We look at the Super-6.
It gets underway with a 3-y-o and up claiming race ($420,000 - $400,000) for the J.W. 'Judge' Hardie Memorial Cup over 1600 metres to be contested by seven starters, including UNTOUCHABLE, SIR KHAN, DORALDO and TOBAGO.
UNTOUCHABLE, who won over the distance on a similar tag as recent as June 21, looks the one to beat. The six-year-old gelding from the stables of Rowan Mathie was subsequently beaten into sixth place by stable-companion JACK SPARROW in the Joseph Ashenheim Memorial Bowl over 2000 metres in overnight allowance company on July 12. Now back among high claimers, UNTOUCHABLE, with Ameth Robles aboard, should win from TOBAGO, who was three lengths behind him in fourth on June 21.
Next is a straight five race for native and imported three-year-olds to be contested by 11 starters. The horses to note after KYSHA BABY, who finished second to SWING BY in the 1000 Guineas, the imported filly PYRITE TONIGHT, PRINCESS SUE and the lightly raced but improving COMMANDING LIGHT, the mount of title-chasing jockey Trevor Simpson.
CLOSE SECOND
KYSHA BABA, who hails from the in-form stables of Gary Subratie, reports well trained
following her unplaced effort behind RANSOM MAN in the June 3 Digicel Derby. When last venturing over the straight course on May 23, KYSHA BABA finished a close second to HOUDINI AGAIN in a fast-run race and despite being worse drawn at post position one, will not go down easily under champion jockey Brian Harding.
Still, preference is for the Dwight Chen-trained American filly COMMANDING LIGHT, who has looked improved at exercise in preparation for this race and seems ready to do herself justice from this favourable high-number draw. HERECOMESFUDGIE, who won the Governor's Cup, St. Leger and Gold Cup in 2004 and was second to JACK SPARROW recently, is tipped to go one better in the knotty one-mile race for overnight allowance horses in which the recent winner DIGI "N' JIGGY and stable-companion CHADMAN are principals dangers in a nine-strong field.
ELECTRO SMART and SUMMER WIND should fight out the finish of the eighth race for maiden three-year-olds, while don't oppose top sprinter QUIET STRENGTH (working well) in the 9th for the She's On Wheels Trophy, and take SIR KISSON LAL over RED GENERAL and RED DRAGON in the 10th.
SUPER-6 FANCIES
(5) UNTOUCHABLE/TOBAGO
(6) COMMANDING LIGHT/KYSHA BABY/PYRITE TONIGHT
(7) HERECOMESFUDGIE/DIGI N'JIGGY
(8) ELECTRO SMART/SUMMER WIND
(9) QUIET STRENGTH
(10) SIR KISSON LAL/RED GENERAL/RED DRAGON
