By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
TIME AND AGAIN (third right), one of two winners for the apprentice Patrick Henry Jr., brings the 9-2 chance TIME AND AGAIN with a well timed run to beat ANTAGONIST (second right) in a driving finish in a closing $140,000 claiming race over 1200 metres at Caymanas Park on Wednesday. Henry also won aboard DIGITAL. - Carlington Wilmot /Freelance Photographer
WITH THE Pick-9 and Super-6 exotic bets eluding punters on Wednesday, both offer attractive carryovers on tomorrow's 10-race programme.
The Pick-9 which boasts a carryover of $555,017.40 will be conducted from races two to 10. And the Super-6 embraces races five to 10.
As usual, the focus is on the Super-6 which offers a carryover of $352,404.00. With heavy betting anticipated, the payout could well reach $1 million.
The first of the Super-6 races is a 3-y-o and up overnight allowance over the straight five course to be contested by nine starters, including the likely favourite CITY LIGHTS who bids for her fourth consecutive win on the trot.
The talented three-year-old filly from the stables of Percy Hussey, easily led home previous winners DUBAI EXPRESS and PRINCESS CHIONESE over 1100 metres when last raced on October 8 and prior to that slammed U.S. ONE by five lengths over the straight on August 20.
Having worked well, she should lead home the stable-companions PUREJOY (lasix first time) and STEPTOTHERHYTHM, both well prepared by many-time champion trainer Philip Feanny.
Next on the programme is the Sunnyside Stakes for native bred two-year-olds over 1100 metres, a race in which the highly thought of debutante PROVIDENCE from the Feanny camp will not be easily denied.
This well conformed chestnut filly by Law Of The Sea out of She Knows Beau has worked well alongside stable-companion DISTINCTLY IRISH who made an auspicious fast time debut over 1100 metres recently.
PROVIDENCE, who has shown good speed at exercise, looks more advanced than any of her 12 opponents and thus gets the vote ahead of fellow debutante PANTHEA (fairly forward) and the experienced SHARAPOVA.
One of the toughest races on the card is the seventh to be contested by nine very fit horses over 1500 metres.
Among them are Wednesday's easy winner ZEEDON who bids for his fourth consecutive win, FRIENDLY EXPRESS who finished in a dead-heat with him for first on October 29, as well as the very fit pair of HARLEY BARLEY and GILNOCK, not to mention CASTAGNA and the recent fast-time course winner GROS VENTRES.
Strictly at the weights, FRIENDLY EXPRESS who has gone up only 1.0kg in the weights following that dead heat over 1700 metres on October 29, is back with a sound chance especially with the trip a furlong shorter.
ZEEDON, who renews rivalry on similar terms at the weights (3.0kg apart), actually beat the higher grade convincingly over a mile on Wednesday and in present frame of mind, only needs competent assistance from the saddle to fight out the finish.
Also expected to complicate matters are the stretch running trio of HARLEY BARLEY under champion jockey Trevor Simpson, GILNOCK with in-form Shane Ellis slated and CASTAGNA with Devon A. Thomas up. In what promises to be a closely contested race, ZEEDON to win from FRIENDLY EXPRESS and HARLEY BARLEY is my idea of the outcome.
JUSTIN JORDON, who relishes the straight, is weighted to win the eighth race over the straight five course in which YO YO'S PAL, SUPERHEAT and MOTHER OF PEARL should ensure keen competition.
It will take a brave punter to oppose BROTHER DANIEL in the ninth race after his near miss against QUICK MEDIC over 1200 metres on November 1, this following a 14-month absence.
Now a lot fitter and the opposition nothing much, the 4-y-o son of Al's River Cat should be lonely at the post. Then, take the course specialist KING OF THE BAND to upstage QUEEN LITTLE SHOES and OBEAHMAN in the closing straight five race to be contested by the maximum 16 starters.
