Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
MY BOY, ridden by Clive Lynch, gets the better of PHISON (Paul Francis) to win the eighth race over 1200 metres for maiden three-year-olds at Caymanas Park on Saturday. My Boy was the 4-5 favourite in a field of 16. He is trained by Everal Francis. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE PICK-9 proved elusive for the fourth consecutive raceday at Caymanas Park on Saturday, the carryover to tomorrow's midweek pro-gramme standing at a whopping $2,049,865.
Thanks to upsets by LE CHIC at 12-1 in the ninth race and UNIQUE SELECTION at 7-1 in the seventh where the howling 1-5 favourite HE'SLOOKINGGOOD finished down the track, three punters with eight of nine winners collected consolation prizes of $50,953.50 each.
With $2 million already in the kitty and heavy betting anticipated on tomorrow's 11-race programme, a Pick-9 payout of close to $3 million looks a real possibility.
While four favourites in HOUDINI AGAIN, RING OF FIRE, WHITE WATER and MY BOY obliged in the Pick-9 races - not to mention two second favourites in DON LIMPIO and ALL FIRED UP - the Ken Mattis-trained LE CHIC in particular ensured a big carryover.
Champion jockey Brian Harding pushed his season's tally to 31 by virtue of a three-timer comprising RING OF FIRE, WHITE WATER and DON LIMPIO in the day's feature for the Zaleucus Trophy. His riding of the Anthony Nunes-trained RING OF FIRE was a sight to behold, as he pushed out the free-running filly on the wire to beat long-time leader PRINCESS SUE by a nose with another nose to CHARMING LUTHER in a tremendous three-way photo finish.
Harding has moved to within five of long-time leader Charles Hussey, who was absent from the saddle on Saturday and will also miss tomorrow's meet. The race for the 2006 championship is interestingly poised at this stage, with any one of four jockeys capable of winning - Hussey (36), Wesley Henry and Trevor Simpson (34 each) and Harding (31).
