Elton Tucker, Assistant Editor - Sport

Veteran jockey Ian Spence guides home 6-1 upsetter SHIVOYNE at Caymanas Park on Tuesday. SHIVOYNE, trained by Percy Tomlinson, won the 1300-metre 10th race. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

COCK ROBIN, a three-year-old colt by Alisios - Catch The Rumor, can give Pick-6 players a flying start when he runs in tomorrow's sixth race at Caymanas Park.

Owned by Derucci, COCK ROBIN showed a great deal of promise as a two-year-old but has been plagued by unsoundness since getting off the mark in a 1000m event on August 6 last year. He showed some early dash last Saturday when mixing it up on the headlines with the out-of-class Senor Gato and now pitted against a less fearsome bunch can lead his rivals home.

His main competition should come from THREE GOOD FRIENDS with former champion jockey Andrew Ramgeet aboard. The four-year-old colt has some speed but seems overburdened with 57kg and should be outsprinted by the very light COCK ROBIN, who will be partnered by promising apprentice Jason Simpson.

The seventh event is a knotty affair over 1600m for the claiming group $290,000 - $260,000. SIR KHAN, DON'T STAY NAKED and NIJINSKY'S STAR all have good chances but the one I like best is STORMY SKY.

Trained by Tony Kirlew, STORMY SKY was prominent for a long way on December 9 before weakening in the final 200m of a 1500m event which saw Satisfier clipping DON'T STAY NAKED by the shortest of heads. The connections have now called on leading apprentice Carlton Malcolm to ride STORMY SKY with a mere 47kg.

With a swing of 6.5 kg. in her favour when compared with DON'T STAY NAKED, the five-year-old mare should be able to stay closer to the pace and draw clear in the final 100m.

Her main rival should be NIJINSKY'S WAR. The six-year-old gelding was third by just over four lengths in the December 9 race and can pounce if the expected front runners falter in the closing stages.

They all have to beat JACK BE GOOD in the eighth over 1500m for $420,000 claimers. Running in overnight company on December 13, JACK BE GOOD was touched off by the highly-rated American import CHARMING LUTHER going 1100m. The runner-up finished in a fast 1:06.2 and now down in class, should be able to dictate the early pace before pulling clear close home.

Maidens

A very ordinary bunch of three-year-old maidens will contest the ninth race over 1100m. The race is confined to horses who have not finished better than fifth lifetime. The winner should come from the trio of SONG BOOK, MONSTER SHACK and OK BABY. SONG BOOK's best run was fifth by two lengths to Pundit over the straight on October 25.

MONSTER SHACK showed promise on November 29 when leading for over 600m in a 1400m race but comes in here very heavy at 57 kg. OK BABY, who is set to carry just 51 kg., ran on well in her third outing on August 26, clocking 1.16.4 for 1200m in muddy conditions. A repeat of that performance should be good enough to beat this moderate group.

The last two events should be won by the improved HEY TRAIN who clocked 1:57.3 for 1820m on December 20 and THE MINISTER. Their respective dangers are QUEEN OF MY HEART and EASTERN LIGHT.

Selections

6) COCK ROBIN/THREE GOOD FRIENDS

7) STORMY SKY/NIJINSKY'S WAR

8) JACK BE GOOD

9) OK BABY/SONG BOOK

10) HEY TRAIN/QUEEN OF MY HEART

11) THE MINISTER/EASTERN LIGHT