Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

NASATOL (left), one of three winners for trainer Robert Darby Sr., is brought with a well-timed run by apprentice Omar Walker to win the eighth race over 1200 metres from stable companion FREE FALL (centre), with Oneil Mullings aboard, and CHADMAN, on the rails, who finished fourth, at Caymanas Park, on Saturday. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

It was a wet and miserable day at Caymanas Park on Saturday, as both the Pick-9 and Super-6 had no takers.

Both exotic bets were derailed by ATTITUDE, who scored a stunning upset at 56-1 in the closing race over 1700 metres, and ALL FIRED UP at 13-1 in the day's feature for the J.W. 'Judge' Hardie Memorial Cup.

ALL FIRED UP completed a sparkling three-timer for trainer Robert Darby Sr. who also posted SAID I SAID I (3-1) and the profound mudlark NASATOL (5-2) in the eighth race for open allowance horses.

Thanks to ATTITUDE, the Pick-9 boasts a huge carryover of $4.89 million to Saturday's meet. One punter with seven of nine winners won the attractive consolation prize of $334,116.00.

With heavy betting expected on Saturday, a Pick-9 payout in excess of $6.5 million looks a real possibility.

The Super-6, on the other hand, has a carryover of $616,934.25 and this is almost certain to top the $2 million mark.

'Darby day'

It was, indeed ,'Darby day' at the park on Saturday. In addition to posting three winners, the veteran trainer had a fourth winner, as owner, in 12-1 outsider ALI SPENDER in the fourth.

Relishing every inch of the muddy conditions, the four-year-old gelding was the second career winner for new trainer Alden Francis, a former assistant trainer to none other than Darby.

Owing to the inclement weather, a question mark hung over the fate of the meet from the second race when the jockeys slated for this race turned around their mounts and headed back to the paddock because of safety concerns.

Jockey Guild president Ian Spence, one of the jockeys down to ride in the second race, was adamant that the racing surface was unsafe and took his protest to the stewards, causing a 20-minute delay to the running of the race.

However, the stewards threw out his request to call off the meet, advising him to urge his fellow riders to keep their horses off the rails where the water was heaviest.

Spence said: "Because of the water-logged state of the course, you can't see where the horses them going to put down their foot and anything can happen in those circumstances.

"We can't take no chances on a track like this as it is not 100 per cent safe even under normal conditions," bemoaned Spence.

Happily, the rain subsided after the third race and the meet progressed without mishap.