Orville Clarke
, Freelance WriterWITH CHRISTMAS in the air, sales in the Pick-9 and Super-6 bets have shown a marked increase and this trend should continue deep into the holiday season.
Four punters showed their guile by nabbing what was a difficult Super-6. This was the situation, despite the fact that the bet included the 18-1 outsider INCORPORATE in the knotty eighth race for overnight allowance horses and also BLUE CANTREL at 16-1 in the sixth race over the circular nine course. Each of the four received $159,990.00.
The Pick-9, on the other hand, again had no takers and the carry-over into tomorrow's midweek card stands at $645,919.20. So difficult was the Pick-9 that 59 punters received $1,969.00 for seven of nine winners.
Outside of INCORPORATE and BLUE CANTREL, Pick-9 bettors had to cope with another tough cookie in CASTAGNA, who won the fourth race in a driving finish at odds of 6-1.
One of two winners for back to form ex-champion Joe Buchanan, CASTAGNA was slowly into stride from the number one post position but despite this, made good headway on the outside of the field to straighten seven lengths seventh (wide). But most punters did not pick up the grey gelding on the wide outside until the race was virtually over.
The focus of attention was on FRIENDLY EXPRESS and VISIONARY who were battling for the lead in the last furlong, ahead of SIREN, before the Owen Sharpe-trained CASTAGNA exploded on them, winning by a nose from FRIENDLY EXPRESS.
PROCEEDACCORDINGLY at 16-1 was a fast-finishing third on the heels of the first two, but he was denied a trouble free run when hemmed in on the inside approaching the furlong pole (distance) and was forced to switch by apprentice Howard Newell in order to get a clear run. But by the time he saw daylight, the race was over.
The 4-5 favourite HARLEY BARLEY, a stable-companion of FRIENDLY EXPRESS, ran no race at all to finish seventh and was never really a factor despite the presence of top jockey Trevor Simpson. She took a lot of good cash down the drain with her, but it could be said she was a false favourite following the late withdrawal of market leader SELENA MYSTIQUE, who was declared lame by the vet at the starting gate.
Trainer Desmomd Shand, who made an unsuccessful bid with VISIONARY who was quietly fancied (7-1) but not disgraced in the fourth, came up trumps with the outsider INCORPORATE in the eighth race over a mile.
Although this appeared the toughest race to unravel on paper, INCORPORATE turned it into an afternoon stroll, going wire to wire to score by 3-1/2 lengths from 2-1 favourite THE MINISTER and 5-2 second choice GOOD COMPANY who hurt his chances by missing the break.
HAT-TRICK BID
Highly fancied REAL RISK (3-1) failed in his bid for the hat-trick, but raced prominently in second for a long way before fading in the last furlong. He was apparently beaten by the handicaps and will be back.
In the sixth race, the Garrett Arscott-trained BLUE CANTREL stole a march on the field leaving the half-mile to turn for home with a commanding lead. At this stage, apprentice Kerry Robinson definitely caught jockey Shane Ellis flat-footed aboard the highly fancied COZY PROSPECTOR and despite the fact that BLUE CANTREL drifted out in the straight, she held on grimly to win by a neck from COZY PROSPECTOR.
Whatever one may say about Trevor Simpson, he wouldn't be caught napping aboard COZY PROSPECTOR given his aggressive style of riding.
