DISTINCTLY IRISH

Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

Both the Super-6 and Pick-9 start anew at Caymanas Park tomorrow, having failed to survive the Ash Wednesday programme.

The Pick-9 embraces races three to 11; the Super-6 from six to 11. We look at the Super-6 which gets under way with a restricted allowance race (non winners of two) over 1600 metres in which BENZ-RALLY, PRINCE ORPHAN, GLORIOUS ONE, PETITE DIVA and SIR GEE are the main hopefuls in a field of 10.

The lightly weighted GLORIOUS ONE, with former champion Wesley Henry aboard, looks tempting with only 49.0kg, while PRINCE ORPHAN and SIR GEE, both winners in recent weeks, are fit enough to figure seriously in a race of this nature.

However, if BENZ-RALLY leaves the gates promptly, it won't be much of a race. This five-year-old horse, who is often tardy at the start, was not beatenfar in his last three races, notably his fast-finishing second to ATTITUDE over 1400 metres on January 31 from a poor start.

A similar effort here will find him hard to beat with 52.5kg and customary pilot, apprentice Harriston Lewis aboard.

HIDALGO, who finished second to RANSOM MAN in last year's Digicel Derby and third to ALLIED FORCE in the St. Leger, could prove a cut above rivals in the seventh race over 1200 metres for native bred four-year-olds and up.

The Wayne DaCosta-trained gelding is out for the first time since finishing third to FOUNDINTHEMIST over this trip in September of last year, but will do so in good condition and with only 53.0kg, should upstage stable-companion TWENTY-NINE and PEACE ANGEL in a 13-strong field.

One of the most open races on the card is the eighth for the James B. Dawes Memorial Cup over 1300 metres (claiming $290,000 - $260,000). Included in the lineup are the recent winners PURE JUSTICE and SENOR GATO along with FIWI EMBLEM, METEOR MAN, SONNY B' GOOD, BLACK RIVER and CORDITE.

BLACK RIVER looks tempting at the weights with a mere 48.0kg, while down-in-class SONNY B' GOOD gets the ideal trip and could score an overdue win. However, preference is for down-in-class FIWI EMBLEM (speedy), to win from Saturday's scorer SENOR GATO and SONNY 'B' GOOD.

Briefly, the well-forward debutant OUTFITHER (by Outrigger out of Korsage) gets the nod over FELICIDAD in the 9th race over the straight for maiden three-year-olds, while it should be 'big horse' DISTINCTLY IRISH (working exceptionally well) who makes his seasonal debut in the 10th (Eros Trophy) where JUST SOME THOUGHTS looks his principal danger in the six-strong field. And don't oppose the well trained BLOW WIND BLOW in the nightpan.

SUPER-6 FANCIES

(6) BENZ-RALLY/GLORIOUS

ONE/PRINCE ORPHAN

(7) HIDALGO

(8) FIWI EMBLEM/SENOR GATO/SONNY 'B' GOOD

(9) OUTFITHER/FELICIDAD

(10) DISTINCTLY IRISH/JUST SOME THOUGHTS

(11) BLOW WIND BLOW/ME LLAMO