Stay with the champion

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Thanks to a 21-1 upset by RULE BY SECRECY in the day's feature, the Pick-9 had no takers at Caymanas Park on Wednesday and the carryover to tomorrow stands at $1.1 million.

The Pick-9 will embrace races two to 10, the first Super-6 (no carryover) from one to six, while the overlapping Super-6 commences from race five.

For the first Super-6, the season's top two-year-old, the American colt MISSMYRTLEBOYRICHIE, looks a five-star banker under champion jockey Omar Walker in the first race over 1200 metres, where he is again expected to lead home old rival DANCE SO SWEET.

The second race for maiden three-year-olds over 1200 metres should resolve itself into a straight fight between DIAMOND VALLEY and ZIXX, both of whom proved competitive in separate races recently.

Renew rivalry

The Patrick Fong-trained ZIXX (Shane Ellis up) was a fast finishing second to fast-time runaway winner LEGAL LADY over 1100 metres last Saturday, and is tipped to outfinish the free-running DIAMOND VALLEY, the mount of in-form jockey Dane Nelson, in an eight-horse field.

ALEXANDRA'S SPIRIT and COLEMAN'S ROCK, first and second, respectively, over 1200 metres in a $350,000 claiming race on October 27, renew rivalry in the third race, again over 1200 metres, and it should go down to the wire once more.

Omar Walker, who rode ALEXANDRA'S SPIRIT in that race, switches to COLEMAN'S ROCK, who is now expected to turn the tables after losing by half a length due to an overconfident ride from Jason Simpson. But the race is not necessarily confined to this pair, as proven campaigner THE BEST MAN (loves the distance) and recent winner KING'S LAW should both enter the reckoning, especially THE BEST MAN, who looks conve-niently placed in the scales with only 53.0kg.

Walker should also land the fourth race for $180,000 claimers aboard the speedy three-year-old gelding SUPER TROOPER, who has been thrown in for a tag by champion trainer Wayne DaCosta at this lowly level.

Super trooper to lead

SUPER TROOPER will relish the straight and should lead home recent winner BULLET TRAIN and THAT'S MY MARKET, both fully effective over the course.

In the fifth race over 1400 metres for maiden four-year-olds and up, DE-BATCHELOR, who was third to MISS OLD HARBOUR over 1200 metres last Saturday, should win. His main rivals in the seven-strong field are BRAWTA and LINDA BLAKE.

The sixth race over the straight for maiden three-year-olds should provide the much-advanced debutante OUTRAM RIVER with a win on her debut.

Significantly, the Spencer Chung-trained OUTRAM RIVER will be ridden by noted US-based Jamaica-born jockey Tony Maragh, who is visiting the island. The Pat N Jack-Miss Financia offspring has pleased in her preparation and should get off the mark immediately at the expense of CENTEYA and BISCAYNE STAR.

FIRST SUPER-6 FANCIES

(1) MISMYRTLEBOYRICHIE

(2) ZIXX/DIAMOND VALLEY

(3) COLEMAN'S ROCK/THE BEST MAN

(4) SUPER TROOPER

(5) DE-BATCHELOR/LINDA BLAKE

(6) OUTRAM RIVER/CENTEYA