Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The Pick-9 had no takers at Caymanas Park last Saturday and the carryover to tomorrow's meet stands at $1.9 million.

This being the case, a payout in excess of $2.5 million looks a real possibility. The Pick-9 will embrace races two to 10, the first Super-6 from race one to six, the overlapping Super-6 from five to 10.We look at the first Super-6 which gets under way with a 4-y-o and restricted allowance race over 1600 metres to be contested by seven starters. Although not attracting a large field, the race should be closely contested among the quartet of EL PATRON, AVENTURA, EASTWOOD and DEO VOLENTE with champion jockey Dane Nelson riding for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta.

Top-weight AVENTURA will have lots of supporters, even though failing to follow up over this trip on Boxing Day when finishing seven lengths fifth to TIMEFORARMS. DEO VOLENTE ran really well in that fast-run race to finish two lengths second, and with Nelson replacing the inexperienced apprentice Holanda Butler, should confirm his superiority over AVENTURA (Dick Cardenas up), and beat the others as well.

CLASSIC PRINCESS, who ran on strongly to beat CANTARE in a driving finish over 1300 metres recently, ought to be followed when she contests the second race over 1400 metres for overnight allowance horses.

True, the Gary Subratie-trained filly is up in class for this race, but won in a good time and really has nothing to fear from main rivals NEW KINGSTON, JUSTIN ON FIRE and the DaCosta-trained EXOTIC GOLD (Cardenas up).

preparation for race

EXOTIC GOLD, who won the Oaks last year (April) but has been sparingly raced since, has been really sharp at exercise in preparation for this race and will ensure CLASSIC PRINCESS is extended.

Following his close second to CLASSIC PRINCESS on New Year's Day, CANTARE is tipped to go one better at the expense of recent winners DIFERENTGENERATION and MINISTEROFJUSTICE in the third race (high claiming) over the straight five course in which seven will run. CANTARE was caught close home by CLASSIC PRINCESS and looks the type who will relish the straight in a field of seven.

They all have the down-in-class SACHIN, with top apprentice Shamaree Muir, to beat in the fourth race over 1600 metres to be contested by 11 starters. The Henry Harrison Jr-trained SACHIN had little chance behind CLASSIC PRINCESS on January 1 and ran accordingly.

Now dropped to claiming $250,000-$210,000, SACHIN should prove too strong for BORA BORA and ANDY CAPP up the lane.

The last two races should be won by the unbeaten UNCLE TAF and the DaCosta-trained JACK DE CHARMER - both having worked well. Their respective dangers are consistent DOUBLE BUTTON and the fleet-footed STEVE'S ON WHEELS.

FIRST SUPER-6 FANCIES

(1) DEO VOLENTE/EL PATRON

(2) CLASSIC PRINCESS/EXOTIC GOLD

(3) CANTARE/DIFERENTGENERATION

(4) SACHIN

(5) UNCLE TAF/DOUBLE BUTTON

(6) JACK DE CHARMER/STEVE'S ON WHEELS