Bank on Esquire

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The Pick-9 surprisingly had no takers at Caymanas Park on Wednesday and the carry-over going into tomorrow's meet stands at $1.8 million.

On a moderately supported 10-race programme, the Pick-9 will embrace races two to 10; the Super-6 from the fifth race to the last. We look at the Super-6 which gets under way with with a three-year-old maiden condition race over 1600 metres to be contested by seven starters.

The winner should come from the quartet of GOLDEN HARVEST under champion jockey Omar Walker, SAINT JACORY, DAYTON'S JUSTICE and UNLEASH THE POWER, the mount of in-form apprentice Aaron Chatrie.

DAYTON'S JUSTICE, who hails from the in-form stables of Ryan Darby, beat all barring LOVE OVER GOLD at 1400 metres on May 29 and with the additional 200 metres to his liking, must have a grand chance of opening her account. Preference, however, is for UNLEASH THE POWER, who caught the eye when a fast-finishing fifth (beaten two lengths) to the debutante SI PUEDO over the straight five course on Wednesday. Trained by Gary Griffiths, the bay colt by Vanadium out of Slew Dancer seems to be begging for a distance such as this and is preferred to Joe Buchanan's mount, DAYTON'S JUSTICE.

A competitive-looking field of nine overnight allowance horses is slated for the sixth race over 1600 metres and indications are that the winner will emerge from the trio of SKITTLE QUEEN, ENGLISH STORM and PLEASURE FIGHT. Both SKITTLE QUEEN and ENGLISH STORM finished third and fourth, respectively, to RIP CURRENT in the Ren Gonzalves Memorial Cup over 2000 metres on June 12 and reverting to this shorter distance have sound chances.

Gradually weakened

ENGLISH STORM actually turned for home the leader in the Gonzalves Memorial Cup, but gradually weakened. He will report cherry ripe for this race and having won the grade-one Imported Mile two years ago has the credentials to win from this convenient mark (53.0kg) and Richie Mitchell riding for trainer Carl Anderson.

Still, preference is for the Wayne DaCosta-trained SKITTLE QUEEN who, despite her bridesmaid's tendencies, looks tempting at the weights with 51.0kg and former champion Wesley Henry aboard.

PLEASURE CRUISE, beaten out of sight by the out-of-class RONRON last time out, can rebound in present company, especially with the experienced Andre Martin replacing the apprentice Chalrick Budhai in the saddle.

ESQUIRE, who finished a close fourth to MEELO after running very wide into the straight over 1500 metres recently, gets the nod over recent winner PATARA in the seventh race at 1800 metres for the Valbert Marlowe Memorial Cup, which has attracted seven starters.

The sparingly raced 3-y-o SEA DEVIL returns from an 11-month layoff in the eighth race over the straight, but having been extensively prepared for this re-entry, should return with a bang in a field of 10 native bred three-year-old fillies. The speedy pair of MISS LEE and MIRACLE RECOVERY, an upset winner last Saturday, are twin dangers.

Then, take down-in-class BROTHERLY LOVE to win the ninth race for the Sports Journalists Association of Jamaica Trophy over 1200 metres ahead of GOOD SENSE before closing the programme with FIRST EDITION (too light now) in the $180,000 conditional claiming race over the straight.

SUPER-6 FANCIES

(5)UNLEASH THE POWER

/DAYTON'S JUSTICE

(6)SKITTLE QUEEN/ENGLISH

STORM

(7)ESQUIRE(8)SEA DEVIL/MISS LEE(9)BROTHERLY LOVE/GOOD

SENSE

(10)FIRST EDITION/

JACKBENIMBLE