Palace Gold looks good in Race 5

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

With no Pick-9 offered on Wednesday due to eight races on the card, it starts anew at Caymanas Park tomorrow after paying $60,547 (49 winners) last Saturday.

The programme will, as usual, offer two Super-6s, the first from the second to the seventh race with the overlapping Super-6 embracing races four to nine.

We look at the second Super-6 which commences with a two-year-old maiden special over 1100 metres to be contested by 11 starters.

While horses such as NO COINCIDENCE, ZARA and the speedy SKIPPING MICHELLE are expected to figure prominently, victory should go to the well-forward debutante CARIDAD from the stables of 14-time champion trainer Philip Feanny.

The chestnut filly by Skipping out of the Alisos mare Mylegacy looked well at exercise on October 16 when galloping 5¹/² furlongs in 1:08.1, the last five in 1.01.2. With nothing outstanding in the line-up, CARIDAD should have an easy passage with competent 3.0kg claiming apprentice Ansel Dancel aboard.

Excellent form

Champion jockey Omar Walker, who has been riding in excellent form recently, should win the sixth race for native-bred two-year-old aboard the Howard Jaghai-trained PALACE GOLD, an impressive winner ahead of BLENDER last time out. BLENDER, who renews rivalry, has been administered Lasix for the first time and should get closer, but PALACE GOLD should still be used as a banker in this sprint.

Briefly, CLASSICAL BABE, having finished second in her last three races, is tipped to go one better at the expense of CENTEYA and MISS CRYSTAL in the sixth race over 1100 metres for maiden three-year-olds. Then, take LITTLEREDCORVETTE, who was not disgraced (fifth) behind FIRST EDITION over the straight last Saturday, to rebound over a similar trip in the seventh race in which RIGGS VICTORY, DIXIE CHICK and OUR DEELITE are real dangers.

WORKING IMAGE (working well) should win the knotty straight five race (overnight allowance) for the G.A. 'Sarge' Bucknor Memorial Cup in which REGGAE ROCK, NEW KINGSTON and the improving American 5-y-o mare THEBANDISLOOSE should ensure he is extended in a field of eight.

The closing Alex's Imports 'Dig Out' Handicap over 1300 metres should see SHE'S SMOKIN, HERROYALHIGHNESS and KRYPTOGRAM in a battle royal for top honours in a maximum field of 16.

The Feanny-trained SHE'S SMOKIN has won her last two races in good times and has really caught the eye at exercise in preparation for this race. She will prove a tough opponent, but preference is for KRYPTOGRAM, who beat all but the progressive SIR VON over 1200 recently.

SECOND SUPER-6

(4) CARIDAD

(5) PALACE GOLD

(6) CLASSICAL BABE/CENTEYA

(7) LITTLEREDCORVETTE/ RIGGS VICTORY

(8) WORKING IMAGE/ REGGAE ROCK

(9) KRYPTOGRAM/ SHE'S SMOKIN