Ovation a safe banker

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

With both the Pick-9 and Super-6 proving elusive at Caymanas Park last Saturday, punters are in line to win big bucks tomorrow.The Pick-9, which will embrace all nine races on the card, boasts a whopping $4.2 million carryover, while the Super-6 has $1.4 million in the kitty.

Chances are the Pick-9 will offer a payout in excess of $5.5 million, but with the card having some highly competitive races, spotting all nine winners should prove a Herculean task.

The Super-6 encompasses races four to nine, beginning with a knotty-looking straight five race for four-year-olds and up to be contested by 12 starters.

CLASSICAL BULLET

The horses to note are CLASSICAL BULLET, SKIPAWAY PRINCE, EXPRESS TRAIN, AWESOME REWARD and CIO MOTO. Based on his close second to OASIS over the course on April 17, the Welsh Soutar-trained CLASSICAL BULLET looks the one to beat with a mere 52.0kg for the services of the improving 4.0kg claiming apprentice Robert Halledeen.

CLASSICAL BULLET showed good speed when caught and beaten a length by the favourite OASIS recently, a race in which he had SKIPAWAY PRINCE (3rd), CIO MOTO (4th), EXPRESS TRAIN (6th) and others such as ALESIA WAY and KING FERDINAND well beaten.

He renews rivalry with all on better terms by virtue of Haledeen's claim, and being a speedy sort, should win from CIO MOTO and SKIPAWAY PRINCE, both speedy types as well.

KADORA, who was not disgraced (fourth) after walking out on her recent debut behind SEA TRAVELLER, will have gained from the experience and should open her account at the expense of the speedy ROSE OF SHARON and HYPROCRITE in the fifth race over 1200 metres for maiden four-year-olds and up (conditional).

THE BEST MAN, now nicely off at the weights with only 51.0kg and top apprentice Doushane Gordon aboard, is preferred to the recent winners SHE'S MAGIC (super fit) and MAGDALA in the sixth race over the round five course. Others such as GAMBOA (regaining form), HIGH ROLLER, FREE FALL and GRACE MARIE will have their supporters, but THE BEST MAN is too genuine and consistent to lose.

OVATION, who just failed to catch subsequent winner PRINCE ROHAN over 1700 metres on April 17, should make no mistake over 2000 metres in the seventh race where TITANIUM KING, who was behind him in fifth, looks the principal danger in a field of 13 maiden three-year-olds.

LORD ADMIRAL, an unlucky loser to SHE'S MAGIC over 1200 metres when drifting out in the last furlong recently, should rebound at the expense of MEELO (working well) and EXPLOSIVE REPORT in the tough-looking eighth race for the Master Blaster Trophy over the straight five course to be contested by 14 starters.

Close all bets with the Wayne DaCosta-trained GOLDEN HARVEST (working well) in the Alex's Import Limited Dig Out Handicap over the straight five course. PRINCE OF ARABIA and UNSUNG HERO are twin dangers in a full field of 16.

SUPER-6 FANCIES

(4) CLASSICAL BULLET/CIO MOTO

(5) KADORA/ROSE OF SHARON

(6) THE BEST MAN/SHE'S MAGIC

(7) OVATION

(8) LORD ADMIRAL/MEELOGOLDEN HARVEST/PRINCE OF ARABIA