Harlan's Dancer a very safe banker

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Upsets by SARAH BARRACUDA (13-1) and NIPHAL (9-1) made sure the Pick-9 had no takers at Caymanas Park last Saturday, but the carryover still stands at a level two $1 million.

The Super-6, however, starts anew with the guaranteed minimum of $750,000 after both were cornered. The Pick-9 embraces races three to 11, the first Super-6 from one to six and the overlapping Super-6 from six to 11.

We look at the first Super-6 which gets under way at 12:15 p.m. with a 3-y-o restricted allowance stakes over 1600 metres, to be contested by seven starters. The field includes ante-post favourite HARLAN'S DANCER and the recent winner WINCHESTER, who tries a longer distance after scoring narrowly over 1100 metres on February 5.

The Richard Azan-trained WINCHESTER is sure to make a brave bid, given this easier pace, but preference is for the stretch-running HARLAN'S DANCER, who will love every inch of this trip following her good second to EMPEROR HALL over same on February 16, and her eye-catching third (awarded second on disqualification of second-place Emperor's Hall) over 1500 metres on March 2.

Race number two, for maiden four-year-olds and up over 1200 metres, looks tailored for the lightly raced OAKRUN, who was in receipt of an indifferent ride from the sparingly used Donald Nugent when chasing home ROYAL NAVY over this trip on March 5.

That was OAKRUN's third outing and with a more accomplished rider in Oniel Mullings aboard, the 4-y-o bay colt from the stables of Fitzroy Glispie should make no mistake. TIME OF STORM, who has been knocking at the door, and the speedy BALAK are twin dangers in the eight-strong field.

Competitive race

A more competitive race is definitely the third, to be contested by eight native-bred three-year-olds over 1100 metres. The winner is almost sure to come from the quartet of HERBIOUS CORPUS, recent winner SHE'S SPECTACULAR (now administered Lasix), SKIPPING BOY and the fleet-footed grey filly BLENDER, who will have to be caught with Walker up.

The Gordon Lewis-trained BLENDER led for a long way when finishing a close fourth to POWERED BY WASSY and HERBIOUS CORPUS over 1300 metres on March 5, and renews rivalry with HERBIOUS CORPUS on 2.5kg better terms. She really looks tempting at the weights, but the Azan-trained HERBIOUS CORPUS will be better for the run and gets the nod with in-form Dick Cardenas retaining the ride.

RAISING ASHLEY, who has been figuring prominently in her races, gets the nod over PRINCESS DECIE and PARADISE in the fourth race for maiden four-year-olds and up over 1200 metres, while ESQUIRE should stave off the recent winner MERIT'S BRITE LITE and late-kicking PRINCE ROHAN in the fifth over 1400 metres.

The sixth race over 1100 metres for maiden three-year-olds should see JJ'S EMPRESS, DANCING GOLD and HIDEANDSEEK in contention at the end, with the speedy DANCING GOLD getting the nod, but only just.

FIRST SUPER-6

(1) HARLAN'S DANCER

(2) OAKRUN/TIME OF STORM

(3) HERBIOUS CORPUS/ BLENDER

(4) RAISING ASHLEY/PRINCESS DECIE

(5) ESQUIRE/MERIT'S BRITE LIGHT

(6) DANCING GOLD/JJ'S EMPRESS