Luscious a banker in race five

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The Pick-9 starts anew at Caymanas Park tomorrow after it was caught by a lucky punter who walked away with a whopping $12.5 million on Wednesday.

There were actually two correct forecasts but reports indicate that after spotting all nine winners, the big winner claimed another first prize by virtue of having the late non-starter SHEISAMAHARANEE in the closing race and getting the off-time favourite, the winner MARSHALL JIM at 6-5 as a result.

The Pick-9 offers the guaranteed minimum of $1 million and will embrace race three to 11 on the programme. The first Super-6 from races two to seven boasts a carryover of $770,117 from Wednesday, while the second Super-6 will be conducted from race six to 11.

Because of the carryover, we look at the first Super-6, which gets under way with a 4-y-o and up maiden condition race over the straight five course in which NUBIAN QUEEN, under title-chasing jockey Shane Ellis, looks best of a bad lot.

Trained by Neive Graham, the lightly raced 4-y-o filly by Dayton Flyer out of Non Stop gave definite market signals (5-2) when running a much-improved race over 1100 metres on August 10, finishing seven lengths fifth to CLASSY KELLY after turning for home a length on top. None of her seven opponents have any worthwhile form to recommend, hence NUBIAN QUEEN can be used as a banker.

COUGWAY, the mount of in-form champion jockey Omar Walker, steps down in class (from $550,000 to $450,000) to contest the third race over 1600 metres and, based on his good fourth to CLASSIC BEAU over the distance on August 10, should lead home the recent winner GUAN YU and front-running MOJITA JAM in a field of seven.

LEMONADE, who has been knocking at the door in recent weeks, gets a glorious opportunity to release the maiden certificate with Walker astride in the fourth race over 1300 metres, to be contested by 11 starters.

Trained by Fitzgerald Richards, LEMONADE failed by a length to catch MONEY HONEY over the straight five course on August 6. A week prior to that, she was runner-up to SECRET WEAPON over 1200 metres.

LUSCIOUS, who was third in the Oaks and fourth in the Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) earlier this season, represents a banker in the fifth race following that good third to MEA CULPA over 1400 metres recently.

Less to do

The three-year-old filly from the stables of champion trainer Wayne DaCosta has less to do in present company and should win from DELICIOSA in a field of nine.

The sixth race, Division II of the 3-y-o maiden special (fillies) over 1300 metres, should resolve itself into a straight fight between DANCING GOLD and STRAIGHT A'S, both of whom proved competitive last time out.

The Howard Jaghai-trained DANCING GOLD has been the more consistent and, with Walker back in the saddle, she is given the edge.

Close the first Super-6 with TIME OF STORM in the seventh race over 1300 metres, despite the fact that he finished last (carried wide) at a mile on Wednesday in the race won by CENTEYA.

With former champion jockey Wesley 'Callaloo' Henry replacing Elvis Murray and the trip more suitable, TIME OF STORM should recoup losses.

FIRST SUPER-6 FANCIES

(2) NUBIAN QUEEN

(3) COUGWAY/GUAN YU

(4) LEMONDADE/ROSE GOLD

(5) LUSCIOUS

(6) DANCING GOLD/STRAIGHT A'S

(7) TIME OF STORM/CLASSY KELLY