Fit Bullet Line safe as Fort Knox

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The 91st running of the Cal's Jamaica Derby over 2400 metres for native-bred three-year-olds will highlight tomorrow's Pick-9 at Caymanas Park.

The $9 million classic for the Sir John Moredcai Trophy has attracted a maximum field of 16, including the 2000 Guineas winner and ante-post favourite BIG MAN BOYU, Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) winner ERASMO, the runner-up COLD GROUND, Oaks winner CARIDAD, as well as JET SETTER and the Noel Ennevor-trained duo of HERMOSO AMIGO and RIGHT MARKER.

All of the above should ensure a good contest, but in the end it should come down to BIG MAN BOYU.

The Pick-9, which has $1 million in the kitty, will embrace races four to 12, while provision has been made for two Super-6s - the first from race one to six, the second from seven to 12.

We look at the second Super-6 which gets under way in race seven, a 4-y-o and up restricted allowance V (non-winners of two) over 1500 metres, to be contested by 11 starters.

The race will more than likely come down to a straight fight between recent winner MOLTEN KING and YES WE WILL, to be ridden by Paul 'Country' Francis and champion jockey Omar Walker, respectively.

Preference is for the Everal Francis-trained MOLTEN KING, who won easily over 1400 metres in a fairly good time some weeks ago, but before that was a disqualified winner at a mile ahead of subsequent winner CARAZENYATTA.

BULLET LINE, who notched her last win over the circular nine course in overnight company, should rebound over same in the eighth race for $450,000-$400,000 claimers. This 5-y-o mare from the stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta reports in fine fettle, and with only 49.0kg and female apprentice Georgina Sergeon aboard (again), should win from GUAN YU and SPACE FURY in a field of 12.

Can't be opposed

The ultra-talented American colt MISMYRTLEBOYRICHIE (Walker up) can't be opposed when he goes for his ninth consecutive win in the Real Vibes Party Wine Sprint (grade one) over 1300 metres, while the remarkable grey gelding NASATOL and KRYPTOGRAM should fight out the finish of the 10th over the straight-five course. NASATOL, who recently won over the course, bids for his 33rd career win to move within one of MASTER BLASTER's all-time record for most wins.

Gary Subratie's BIG MAN BOYU, to be ridden by visiting Trinidadian jockey Nobel Abrego, gets the nod over Richard Azan's ERASMO in the Cal's Jamaica Derby (11th race), while close the programme with MING LEI in the 12th and final.

SECOND SUPER-6 FANCIES

(7) MOLTEN KING/YES WE WILL

(8) BULLET LINE/SPACE FURY

(9) MISMYRTLEBOYRICHIE

(10) NASATOL/KRYPTOGRAM

(11) BIG MAN BOYU/ERASMO

(12) MING LEI/THE GREYT DOCTOR