Marhabba a safe banker

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

With DON GEORGE at 17-1 derailing the Pick-9 at Caymanas Park last Saturday, the carryover to tomorrow's meet stands at $1.4 million.

The Super-6 had no carryover and both start anew with the guaranteed minimum of $750,000. The Pick-9 will be conducted from two to 10, the first Super-6 from races one to six and the overlapping Super-6 from five to 10.

We look at the second Super-6 which gets under way in the fifth, the Keith Cornwall (champion groom) Plaque (high claiming) to be contested by 11 starters over 1820 metres.

The horses to note are COUGWAY, recent winner LIKKLE BIT, SLEDGE and the 2007 Superstakes winner MAJOR MAYER, who was beaten into second place by LIKKLE BIT over 1600 metres on June 25.

MAJOR MAYER, with champion jockey Omar Walker retaining the ride, is fancied to turn the tables on LIKKLE BIT over the longer distance. But SLEDGE and COUGWAY (Jevanne Ervin) will be closing rapidly at the end, and with both venturing over their favourite trip, it promises to be close. The Noel Ennevor-trained COUGWAY finished two lengths third to LITTLE WASP over 1700 metres in overnight company on June 18 and, now dropped in class, looks the right choice with only 52.kg.

Race number six, the 3-y-o maiden condition race over 1300 metres (Division I) for the Gerald Harrison Plaque (Hall of Fame groom), has attracted the maximum 16 starters, and this is where it gets sticky.

The race, like Division II, is confined to maidens who have not finished second to fourth lifetime. Horses to note are SERIOUS BUSINESS, BIG TEN, TEEN QUEEN and the one I like best, KOMPRESSOR (Brian Harding up) from the stables of title-chasing trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes. KOMPRESSOR figured prominently for a long way when finishing sixth to RHEA ON TOUR over 1200 metres on June 25, and that is the best form to recommend by any.

Race seven, Division II of the 3-y-o maiden race, should be won by the Richard Azan-trained ZELIHA who finished 6³/⁴ lengths seventh to SHE CAN PREACH over 1400 metres recently. MAHALET and LEAN HEAD are twin dangers, but this race gives the impression that any number can play.

Down-in-class pair

MARHABBA, having chased home the out-of-class MING LEI over 1200 metres recently, should have little difficulty in going one better in the eighth race over 1400 metres for $180,000 claimers, while the down-in-class pair of RUSSIAN COMMANDER and MR. SKILL should fight out the finish of the day's feature, the Grooms' Association Trophy (claiming $350,00-$300,000) over the straight.

MR SKILL, who is out for the first time since New Year's Day, now takes orders from trainer Lawrence Freemantle and, given his lightning speed, will have to be caught. But Carl Anderson's RUSSIAN COMMANDER has a lot going for him now (loves the straight, etc) and is just preferred. Then, take Walker's mount SIR SOUTH (working well) to stave off the late-kicking RED FLAG and WAGON WHEEL in the 10th over 1300 metres.

SECOND SUPER-6

(5) COUGWAY/MAJOR MAYER

(6) KOMPRESSOR/SERIOUS BUSINESS

(7) ZELIHA/LEAN HEAD

(8) MARHABBA

(9) RUSSIAN COMMANDER/ MR SKILL

(10) SIR SOUTH/RED FLAG