Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
FIWI EMBLEM, with Oneil Mullings aboard, is led into the winners enclosure by a stable connection after his narrow victory in the Reca Trophy feature over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park last Saturday. FIWI EMBLEM is trained by Lawrence Freemantle and was the 8-5 second favourite. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance photographer
It's all about the Pick-9 at Caymanas Park today, the popular exotic bet boasting a whopping $9.8 million carryover.
Having eluded punters for the past 10 race days, Pick-9 activity should intensify from early and it's possible that the payout could go pretty near the $13 million mark.
Last Saturday it was noticeable that punters were pooling their resources to improve their chances andthis trend is expected to continue with greater intensity today.
Meanwhile, two trophies are at stake on the 12-race programme which offers two Super-6s. Significantly, the Super-6 also eluded punters last Saturday, and the carryover stands at a cool $950,000.
Principal feature on the card is The Viceroy Trophy grade one race over 1800 metres to be contested by five starters, including the 2005 'Horse of the Year' DISTINCTLY IRISH, who bids for his fourth consecutive win.
looks hard to beat
DISTINCTLY IRISH needs no introduction and despite toting customary top weight of 60.5kg with 'Hall of Fame' jockey Winston Griffiths again in the saddle, the six-year-old bay gelding by Irish Quest out of the 1990 Guineas and Derby winner Distinctly Native, should prove hard to deny in this small field.
When last raced on August 6 (Independence Day), DISTINCTLY IRISH humbled none other than the reigning Horse of the Year, MIRACLE MAN, in the Prime Minister's Stakes over 2000 metres and having worked exceptionally well since, galloping five furlongs in 59.4 last Monday morning, should prove too strong for old rival LA REINA, his only serious rival.
DISTINCTLY IRISH was fully extended to beat LA REINA by three-quarter length when they last met in the L.R. 'Bob' Mayall Memorial Trophy over 1600 metres on July 21, and given normal conditions, I expect them to finish in that order once again.
MORE COMPETITIVE
A far more competitive race is definitely the Knutsford Park Cup to be contested by 13 native bred three-year-olds over 1200 metres.
To say that this race is hard to unravel would be an understatement as no fewer than seven of the starters have winning claims, including PERFECT STEP, BUNKER DUST, MAGIC MOMENT, RIGGED TO WIN, STARRY EYES, GRANDPA'S DREAM and DUBIE.
For what's its worth, Wayne daCosta's RIGGED TO WIN has run two good races in defeat recently, having finished second to PRINCE TERRON and GRACE MARIE over 1100 metres and 1300 metres on August 11 and 29, respectively.
Her powerful late kick should do the trick, but Pick-9 players should approach this race with caution, as PERFECT STEP, GRANDPA'S DREAM, BUNKER DUST and DUBIE should ensure that RIGGED TO WIN works hard for the money.
Other firm fancies on the card are FIRST IN THE SAND to win the opening race at the expense of NATURALLY ROYAL, THUNDER STORM to upstage THE QUEEN in the third for two-year-olds, down in class CONCORDE to stave off MICHAEL POWER in the fourth, NASATOL in the fifth for open allowance horses, and BELLA IN BLOOM to repel GETAWAYBOY in the eighth.
