Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
MISS CODY BANKS, ridden by apprentice Harriston Lewis, wins the ninth race over 1200 metres in a driving finish from OK BABY (Paul Francis), partly hidden against the rails. MISS CODY BANKS, the biggest upset of the day, won at odds of 9-1 and spoilt many Pick-9 bets.
Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
With a $10.65 million carryover, Pick-9 activity should reach fever pitch at Caymanas Park today and a payout in excess of $13 million looks a mere formality, if caught.
The popular exotic bet has eluded punters for the past nine race days and even with the races looking easier than usual to unravel due to smaller fields, it takes only a stunning upset to crash the party.
Meanwhile, the three-year-old campaign leading up to the season's first classics, the 1000 and 2000 Guineas on April 7, gets underway with the Eight Thirty Sprint for native bred three-year-old maiden fillies over the straight five course taking the spotlight.
Newcomers
The race, which offers a total purse of $415,000 has attracted 12 starters, three of whom will be racing for the first time.
Among the newcomers are TANTESOLDE from the stables of veteran 'Hall of Famer' Allan 'Billy' Williams and the Anthony 'Baba' Nunes-trained LADY SILSILA. Both are well forward in condition, especially TANTESOLDE to be ridden by competent 3.0kg claiming apprentice Omar Walker.
The bay filly by Outrigger out of the Schism mare Voodo Chant has been moving impressively at exercise, galloping five furlongs out of the straight in 1:00.4 last Saturday morning, the first four in 46.4. A week earlier she cantered eight furlongs, the last two in 23.2.
TANTESOLDE looks pretty fast and having secured a favourable high number draw, could get off the mark immediately.
She can expect stiff opposition from ISLA, who showed promise on her recent debut, ORION who proved competitive on January 1 and is no slouch, as well as MISS CREE and of course RAGING FURY, who was an unlucky loser last time out and has been administered Lasix for the first time today.
Narrowing the field
I narrow it down to TANTESOLDE, ISLA from the stables of 14-time cham-pion trainer Philip Feanny and RAGING FURY who is conditioned by Richie Todd.
Installed a howling favourite, ISLA ran a bit green when collared by both GLITTER CLEARANCE and GRACE MARIE well inside the last furlong over 1200 metres on her January 13 debut, but will have gained from the experience.
Preference, however, is for RAGING FURY who went down in a driving finish to DR. BADOO on her recent debut, a race in which she was hampered by the third horse MAGIC MOMENT (a subsequent winner) in the last furlong when she swerved out badly.
Having looked the part at exercise and Lasix now administered, the bay filly by Al's River Cat out of Bold Fury is preferred to TANTESOLDE and ISLA.
Smart apprentice Andre Martin has the ride from the convenient mark of 52.0kg.
Other firm fancies - MARK TO MARKET in the first race, BELLA IN BLOOM in the secind, FABULOUS P in the fifth, ESTOY LISTO in the seventh, GOOD COMPANY in the eighth and YAHABIBI in the 10th.
