BORN TO DANCE (left), ridden by visiting Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas for trainer Percy Hussey, outbattles MOET (Carlton Malcolm) to win the seventh race over 1100 metres for maiden three-year-olds, as the 7-5 favourite, at Caymanas Park on Wednesday. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer
Both the Pick-9 and Super-6 start anew at Caymanas Park tomorrow, the Pick-9 embracing all races on the Pre-Superstakes Day nine racecard.
Two punters shared the $1 million Pick-9 on Wednesday, each receiving $500,000.
The Super-6 was caught by many, each receiving just over $10,000. We look at the Super-6 which renews with the guaranteed minimum of $500,000.
It kicks off in the third race, a restricted allowance IV (non-winners of three) to be contested by nine starters (five-year-olds and up) over 1400 metres.
Included in the line-up is the front-running AVALANCHE, who will just about get the distance and will have to be caught, as well as the recent course winner NIKITIS who is extremely fit, along with BULLSEYE, DULCIMENA and ROYAL CHRIS, who now has the services of champion jockey Omar Walker.
Dicey affair
In a rather dicey affair, in which multiple choice should be used, BULLSEYE, who ran creditably (third) behind ANDIAMO over the distance on October 1, can get the job done with veteran jockey David 'Scorcher' McKenzie again in the saddle. ROYAL CHRIS and DULCIMENA are twin dangers.
Next on the programme (race number four) is a maiden condition straight five race to be contested by 11 starters, including leading lights HONOURABLE CHRIS, SMART VICTORY and stable-companion CHANCES ARE.
Trainer Victor Williams holds a strong hand with SMART VICTORY and CHANCES ARE.
Both are ideally suited to the straight, but with in-form jockey Shane Ellis taking the ride on SMART VICTORY, who chased home LADY KALOUTIE over 1200 metres on October 11, the hint should be taken.
HONOURABLE CHRIS has finished second in his last two races and with 4.0kg claiming apprentice Lenroy Collins reducing the weight to 53.0kg, looks the main danger.
One to beat
Briefly, GREAT SENSATION, having finished a close fourth to FELICIDAD over the straight last Saturday, looks the one to beat in the fifth race over 1200 metres, while it should be HE'S REALLY OK in the sixth, having shown promise (fourth) on his recent debut behind smart FABULOUS-CONNECTION.
Then, take down in class SANTA ANITA GIRL to upstage CAPTAIN BONE and EL PEQUENO in the seventh for $180,000 claimers over 1400 metres, before closing with the well-trained NATIONAL GALLERY in the eighth race over the straight (claiming $325,000-$295,000) for the Grooms' Association Trophy.
Trained by Percy Hussey, NATIONAL GALLERY, to be ridden by visiting Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas, should lead home the course specialists JET SKI D'OR and BACK POCKET in a field of nine.
SUPER-6 FANCIES
(3) BULLSEYE/DULCIMENA/ROYAL CHRIS
(4) SMART VICTORY/HON. CHRIS/CHANCES ARE
(5) GREAT SENSATION
(6) HE'S REALLY OK/PRINCE
OF PEACE/SHE'S MAGIC
(7) SANTA ANITA GIRL/CAPTBONE/EL PEQUENO
(8) NATIONAL GALLERY/JET SKI D'OR
- O.C.