Son of India the right choice

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Thanks to a 12-1 upset by ANTIOCH in the ninth race at Caymanas Park last Saturday, the Pick-9 had no takers and the carryover going into tomorrow's meet remains at $1 million.

The Pick-9 will embrace races two to nine on the Supreme Ventures-sponsored programme, featuring the sixth running of the Cash Pot 'Only One For Me Trophy' over 1200 metres, in which 13 native-bred juveniles have been declared.

Meanwhile, the first Super-6 will encompass races one to six, while the overlapping Super-6 commences in the fifth.

We look at the second Super-6 which gets under way with the Cash Pot Dash Trophy over the straight five course for four-year-old and up (non-winners of two). Ten starters have been declared and indications are it will be decided among the speedy ALESIA WAY, GRACEFUL NATIVE, SON OF INDIA, who enjoys running over the straight, as well as BUTCHER GAL, AWESOME REWARD and the disappointing CIO MOTO.

Both ALESIA WAY and CIO MOTO have not been holding their gallops and it would pay dividends to look at horses such as AWESOME REWARD, GRACEFUL NATIVE and SON OF INDIA, who recently changed stables (moving from Collin Blair to Winchester McIntosh) and with the tongue tie now fitted and in-form Dane Nelson aboard, could prove the right choice with only 52.0kg.

His principal danger must be GRACEFUL NATIVE, who failed by a short head to beat GOVNOR over the course on September 18.

No mistake

GALLAVANTER, who finished third to MISS ATLANTIC STAR over 1500 metres recently, will be better for that pipeopener (his first race in almost nine months) and should make no mistake in the sixth for conditional $180,000 claimers over 1300 metres. Having beaten better in the not-too-distant past, GALLAVANTER who goes with a mere 52.0kg for the services of apprentice Jevvanne Erwin, should win from the front-running mare MISS TIMS, now taking orders from in-form trainer Ryan Darby.

The classy American filly HONEYOFALADY should defy topweight of 58.5kg against five opponents in the grade one None Such Sprint Trophy over 1200 metres in which the speedy BRASH & SASSY (now very light) and the recent course winner MINISTEROFJUSTICE are real dangers.

SUPER CENTER, who carries a mere 50.0kg following his close second to MISTER INFORMATION over a mile recently, should go one better in the eighth race over 1820 metres, in which MARLEE'S MERIT, DIVINITY and ASENTEWA are his main rivals in a field of 11. The Richard Azan-trained SUPER CENTRE finished second to the classic filly EXCELLENCE when last ventures over this trip in a time of 1:57.3 on July 3 and a reproduction of that performance should suffice.

The ninth race, the Cash Pot 'Only One For Me' Trophy, should come down to a straight fight between the season's top native-bred two-year-olds - TRADITIONAL PRINCE (Dick Cardenas) and FATTY BUM BUM (Omar Walker).

Both have scored twice, but based on the recent win of the Robert Pearson-trained TRADITIONAL PRICE in winning the Dewhurst Stakes over 1300 metres in fast time, including a 1:12.4 split for the first six furlongs, gets the nod over the well-trained FATTY BUM BUM from the stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta.

SUPER-6 FANCIES

(5) SON OF INDIA/GRACEFUL NATIVE

(6) GALLAVANTER/MISS TIMS

(7) HONEYOFALADY/MINISTEROFJUSTICE

(8) SUPER CENTRE/MERIT'S BRITE LITE

(9) TRADITIONAL PRINCE

(10) GRAND CABARET/BEIJING BIRDNEST