Former champion jockey Trevor Simpson pilotting HOUDINI AGAIN to a comfortable victory in the ninth race at Caymanas Park on Labour Day. The American-bred four year-old colt is owned by Tres Amigos and trained by Philip Feanny. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
SATURDAY'S well supported 12-race card will ensure that there are two bites of the cherry for players of the popular Pick-6 exotic bet.
Feature event on the card will be the Jamaica Thoroughbred Hall of Fame Stakes Trophy over 1200 metres for open allowance horses.
MUSICAL MAESTRO is the ante post favourite but he will face stiff challenges from NASATOL, SI MI TRIAL, both from Wayne DaCosta's barn, and the Peter McMaster-trained American import EXPLOSIVE PEAK who has been thrown in at the handicaps at a mere 51kg.
We will focus our attention on first six races where Philip Feanny's appropriately named JET BLASTER is expected to give punters a flying start in the opening event over 1000m straight.
The lightly raced three-year-old gelding by Market Rally - Born To Be Wild has been burning up the exercise track since getting off the mark first time of asking on April 29. JET BLASTER did not beat much on that day. He got home just over a length ahead of OSAKA clocking 1:00.1 for 1000m straight.
JET BLASTER has been taken to task by Feanny since then and he whipped the highly regarded Diesel on May 22 on the exercise track. The Alex Haber-owned gelding seems to be going places fast and should not be opposed.
DUEL
Race two, another 1000m straight event for $350,000 claimers, will see a duel between champion jockey Brian Harding aboard ROYAL MALICE and leading rider Charles Hussey on MAGIC DRAGON. ROYAL MALICE came down in class to contest a 1400m event on May 13 but was troubled by faulty gear and finished at the back of the field.
In his previous outing, ROYAL MALICE was beaten just two lengths in $420,000 company by SCOTCHONTHEROCKS and THE MINISTER over tomorrow's distance in a fast 58.4. If he reports in similar frame of mind, he will not go down easily.
The Husseys lost MAGIC DRAGON when he was claimed for $400,000 last September. He seemed to have been missed by the popular racing family as they reclaimed him for $350,000 just over a month ago.
He is back fresh and ready for battle with his favourite rider aboard and will use his superior speed to set the early splits before going clear in the final 100m.
LITTLE EXPERIENCE
There is little to recommend either the riders or the horses in the third, a 1200m event for four year-old and up maidens. The riders are all from the jockeys training school and have very little experience.
MISS HESTER appears to be the best of a bad lot. She has clocked 1:17.3 for the distance and that should be good enough to win tomorrow.
Michael Beecham's MICHAEL POWER gets a glorious chance to score a long overdue win when he contests the Money Moon event for $290,000 claimers.
The five-year-old gelding has been confronting superior opposition for far too long and is finally down to a level he can manage. MICHAEL POWER led for a long way on a $420,000 tag on May 13 and now down three levels should be able to take care of the very light PADDY'S STORM and FROMRUSSIAWITHLOVE.
LADY POOJA is tipped to go all the way in race five, the second leg of the 1200m event for four-year-old and up maidens.
The four-year-old filly came back from a near nine-month layoff on May 6 and was heavily backed to land a maiden race over 1000m. She ran no race at all but has remained busy at exercise, clocking 36.3 in a 600m spin on Wednesday.
The Michael Powell-trained filly has always been very speedy and she should be able to go well clear of the field and score an easy victory.
Philip Feanny's ELECTRO SMART is a safe banker in the sixth for maidens over 1100m.
The ROYAL MINISTER - SOPHISTICATED MAMA three-year-old colt is far more advanced than his rivals and veteran jockey Winston Griffiths should make no mistake.
PICK-6 SELECTIONS
1. JET BLASTER
2. MAGIC DRAGON/ ROYAL MALICE
3. MISS HESTER/BOURN TO RUN
4 MICHAEL POWER/ PADDY'S STORM
5. LADY POOJA/ OUT OF THE BLUE
6. ELECTRO SMART
