Bank on Heart of Gold

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

With the Pick-9 again proving elusive at Caymanas Park last Saturday, the carryover to tomorrow's RJR St Leger Day 11-race programme stands at $4.9 million.

A payout in excess of $6.5 million looks a real possibility and this should encourage heavy betting. The card features the $3.9 million RJR Jamaica St Leger over 2000 metres, in which the Guineas and Derby winner MARK MY WORD is on course to become the 10th Triple Crown winner at Caymanas Park.

He faces six opponents in the 84th running of the St Leger, and having beaten all of them decisively in either the Guineas or the Derby, or both, the classy three-year-old colt by Market Rally out of Miss Chestnut should be used as a banker in the 10th race.

On a day when the 10 Festival Song finalists will perform at Caymanas Park, the Pick-9 will embrace races three to 11; the Super-6 from six to 11.

We look at the Super-6 which gets under way with a 1200-metre high claiming race ($550,000-$500,000) to be contested by nine starters, including top contenders NATURALLY ROYAL, GRACE MARIE, PEDRO BLUFF and THE BEST MAN.

It will more than likely come down to a straight fight between NATURALLY ROYAL and GRACE MARIE, both of whom are ideally suited to the distance.

NATURALLY ROYAL

GRACE MARIE, the mount of Triple Crown seeking jockey Dick Cardenas, won easily over the round-five course on May 8, and lost no marks in defeat three weeks later when failing by a length to stave off the out-of-class ROME over this trip.

Preference, however, is for the down-in-class NATURALLY ROYAL, who wasn't disgraced (fifth) behind MACHISMO in a fast-run 1100-metre race last Saturday in overnight company.

Only six starters have been declared for the seventh race over 1300 metres and here the consistent LATIN KING, who is down to carry only 50.0kg, should win from the lightly weighted KAMECHI and HEY TRAIN.

LATIN KING advertised his well-being on June 2 when finishing a good second to RAJPUT over 14900 metres on a $235,000 claiming tag.

HEART OF GOLD, who finished fourth in a blanket finish to Superstakes winner HOMBRE, THE GUV and MARK MY WORD over 1820 metres on May 22 in open-allowance company, steps down in class for the 8th race, the RJR 60th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee Trophy Trophy over the distance, and looks hard to oppose with only 51.5kg.

ALEXIS, working really well under the watchful eyes of trainer Desmond Shand, is preferred to ENGLISH CONNECTION and BISCAYNE STAR in the ninth race over the straight for maiden three-year-olds. And, as stated earlier, don't oppose the Richard Azan-trained MARK MY WORD in the RJR St Leger, while it should be the well-prepared KRYPTOGAM (having withdrawn from the St Leger) ahead of HERROYALHIGHNESS in the closing race over 1300 metres for three-year-olds.

SUPER-6 FANCIES

(6) NATURALLY ROYAL/GRACE MARIE

(7) LATIN KING/KAMECHI

(8) HEART OF GOLD

(9) ALEXIS/ENGLISH CONNECTION

(10) MARK MY WORD

(11) KRYPTOGRAM/HERROYALHIGHNESS

 

A payout in excess of $6.5 million looks a real possibility and this should encourage heavy betting.