ALLIEDFORCE, with jockey Oneil Mullings, sprints clear of GOOD COMPANY (centre), HIDALGO (secondright) and PITTACUS (second left) to win the circular nine open allowance race at Caymanas Park on Saturday as the 8-5 favourite. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

The Pick-9 proved elusive for the second consecutive raceday at Caymanas Park on Saturday, but the carryover is still $1 million.

Reason being the Pick-9 was on Saturday outsold by the Super-6 which was not caught at the mid-week either and boasted a carryover of $854,460.00.

Truth is the Super-6 generates more sales than the Pick-9 on a day-to-day basis as it is easier to catch and not as difficult to service.

However, whenever the Pick-9's carryover grows in excess of $3 million and sales begin to take off, the Super-6 is simply no match for it.

On Saturday the Pick-9 had no takers, but the Super-6 was caught by 75 punters, each receiving $34,400.50.

THE BOMBER

The horse proving most difficult to spot was the 3-y-o debutante, THE BOMBER at odds of 11-1. Ridden by leading all-time jockey Winston 'Fanna' Griffiths, who turns 49 in September, the son of Outrigger made all impressively, winning by all of 12-3/4 lengths. Indeed, this was one of the easiest winners for 'Fanna' in his long and illustrious career.

There were three winning favourites in both the Super-6 and Pick-9, namely, WAGONIST at 9-5 in the sixth, BEAT THE DRUM at evens in the seventh and ALLIEDFORCE at 8-5 in the 10th race for open allowance. The Noel Ennevor-trained ALLIEDFORCE completed a three-timer for jockey Oneil Mullings.

In the first of the Pick-9 races, the howling favourite, NEGRIL LASS, finished down the track, but according to reports, she hurt herself in the starting gate and this contributed to her below-par effort.

EVENTFUL RACE

Indeed, it turned out to be an eventful race. THE BEST MAN, with bang in-form apprentice Omar Walker riding for trainer of the moment Dwight Chen, was first past the post, only to be disqualified (drifting outunder the whip) and the race awarded to 8-1 chance LADY NAGIN with whom he had interfered in the last furlong.

Later in the afternoon, Walker was again in trouble with the stewards for a similar offence, this time aboard third past the post HIDALGO (6-1) in the 10th race won by ALLIEDFORCE.

HIDALGO was disqualified and placed fifth for causing interference to the fifth horse TOBAGO (awarded fourth) in the last furlong.

Walker, who now faces suspension, has been riding so well in recent months that popular racing analyst Francisco 'Linky' Mills claimed that he is "by far the best apprentice" riding at Caymanas Park on a recent racing magazine programme on radio. This was, of course, challenged by one of his co-hosts.

In my years of association in racing I have seen many promising young riders come and go. Walker could be one of the few who has staying power. But let's not jump the gun at this stage.

JRC watching Sea Crackers

On April 12, the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) met with Uton Stewart and Robert Asphall, respective owner and trainer of the horse SEA CRACKERS, which ran dismally at Caymanas Park on January 1 2007, having been installed the odds-on favourite.

On the day of the race jockey Andrew Ramgeet had reported, when questioned by the Stewards, that the horse had failed to respond despite very strong urging during much of the race and finished last but one in the 1400-metre race won by ALLURE (7-2).

The Commission accepted the result of the spot test on the horse, which was negative.

Trainer Asphall reported that the horse's right front suspensory ligament was sore after the race and the horse was having pain in the region of the stifle, but regained some normalcy after two days, with pain medication being administered.

The commissioners indicated that they would be paying very close attention to instances like this where the horse's running was too bad to be true and would not rule out banning such horses from racing for a specified time and/or banning the transfer of such horses, as well.

No charges were preferred against the owner or trainer.