Invictus set to atone in race seven

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

With the Pick-9 having no takers at Caymanas Park last Saturday, the carryover to tomorrow's meet stands at $1.6 million.

This being the case, a payout in excess of $2.5 million looks a real possibility. The 10-race programme has attracted large fields, a recipe for highly competitive races.

The Pick-9 will embrace races two to 10, while the first Super-6 will be conducted from race one to six, with the overlapping Super-6 kicking in from race five.

We look at the second Super-6 which gets under way with the $715,000 Mercury Sprint feature for native-bred maiden three-year-old colts and geldings over the straight-five course.

It has attracted 11 starters, including hot ante-post favourite THE MESSENGER (Dick Car-denas up), who should take a lot of beating on the strength of his last performance.

Impressive victory

Trained by Richard Azan, the bay colt by Saint Appeal out of Sophisticated Mama finished 4¹/⁴ lengths second to JET SETTER in a fast-run 1100-metre race (1:06.4) on January 1, and the third horse, TREASURE GIRL, having paid tribute to the form with an impressive victory in last Saturday's Eight Thirty Sprint over the straight, speaks volumes for the chances of THE MESSENGER, who has looked sharp in his preparation.

He should win from the more experienced JELANI and DESIGN STAR, both of whom have shown worthwhile ability.

The sixth race over the straight for $350,000-$300,000 claimers has attracted a large field of 15, from which the course specialist MARK TO MARKET, the useful four-year-old gelding G-FORCE and consistent FLAGAMAN should decide the outcome.

MARK TO MARKET advertised his well-being on January 15 when finishing a close second to THE BEST MAN over the straight on a $425,000 claiming tag. Now dropped in class, MARK TO MARKET, who had FLAGAMAN behind in third that day, is back with a grand chance of going one better from the convenient mark of 52.0kg and leading rider Doushane Gordon aboard.

Still, G-FORCE should be the better horse at this stage, and with the Gary Subratie stable in the peak of form, the Coded Warning offspring really looks tempting with 51.0kg. He last won over the straight-five course on October 9, slamming subsequent course winner SI PUEDO by 4¹/² lengths in the smart time of 58.2.

Next on the programme (7th race) is a 3-y-o maiden condition race over 1600 metres to be contested by the maximum 16 starters. The horses to note are the front-running SEARCHING FOR GOLD, who will have to be caught; INVICTUS, who has been knocking loudly at the door, STORM WATCH, who was a fast-finishing third to HIGH PRIEST and INVICTUS over 1500 metres recently, as well as ORDEROFDISTINCTION and WAR HERO.

My idea of the winner is the Anthony Nunes-trained INVICTUS, who failed by a length to catch HIGH PRIEST and will just love the additional 100 metres of this race.

Briefly, the Subratie-trained BIG MAN BOYU, who won from well off the pace on his recently debut, gets the nod over the well-trained US debutante GIACOMO'S PRIDE in the eighth race over 1400 metres for three-year-olds, while CLASSY PROSPECT (genuine, consistent) and the veteran campaigner TOBAGO should provide answers for the last two races.

SECOND SUPER-6 FANCIES

(5) THE MESSENGER

(6) G-FORCE/MARK TO MARKET

(7) INVICTUS/SEARCHING FOR GOLD

(8) BIG MAN BOYU/ GIACOMO'S PRIDE

(9) CLASSY PROSPECT/ MACHISMO

(10) TOBAGO/GUAN YU