Orville Clarke, Freelance Reporter

Shane Ellis ... rode three winners.

Thanks to a huge upset by TRACK STAR in the closing straight five race, both the Pick-9 and Super-6 eluded punters on a day when form players had little to cheer about.

Punters with six of nine winners received consolation prizes of $21,015 in the Pick-9 which still has $1 million in the kitty, while 29 punters with five of six collected $13,808.50 each in the Super-6, which boasts a carryover of $1.2 million.

Running at odds of 30-1 with apprentice Jason Simpson aboard, TRACK STAR, despite being poorly drawn on the far side at post position two, won convincingly by two lengths from highly fancied BACK POCKET, with the howling 6-5 favourite FIRE D TRAINER (sixth) nowhere in sight.

As a racing man, I have discovered that sometimes you find winners by talking to others in the sport. You can never know enough in horseracing.

Last Tuesday, fellow tipster Errol Dunn (The News) visited me at work and we were discussing the previous race meet when he made an enlightening observation.

He said some of the smaller trainers have a way of running horses way above their level before stepping down to their rightful class to land the gamble. He specifically singled out TRACK STAR who went up to overnight allowance company on January 19 and, despite having no chance in that race, led for four furlongs in the 1600-metre race won by 2006 St. Leger winner ALLIEDFORCE.

Stepping down to claiming company on Saturday, this on a $310,000 tag, TRACK STAR, with a mere 48.0kg, destroyed the opposition which, to Mr. Dunn and myself, was not surprising. The four-year-old filly paid $633.00 to win on the minimum $20 stake. Sometimes it pays to listen, especially to experienced punters.

Former champion jockey Shane Ellis highlighted the 11-race programme with three winners, including the 3-y-o debutantes MEDUSA (5-1) and LADY LIZ (2-1) in the respective divisions of the Eight Thirty Sprint over the straight five course.

Ellis disclosed that he will be riding full-time in Jamaica this year. Having made a wonderful start to the season, the second generation jockey, who had been riding with limited success at Woodbine in Canada, must be a serious contender for the 2008 jockeys' title, especially with top agent Donovan Wilson acting on his behalf.

Ellis, son of three-time champion jockey Winston "Nero' Ellis (1964, 1967, 1969), has the pedigree. He was champion jockey in 2000 and should ensure that new champion Omar Walker is kept on his toes.

YAMASHITA'S GOLD, ridden by Richard Mitchell, holds off PURE JUSTICE (Andre Martin) on the outside, in the closing stages of the eighth race over 1100 metres at Caymanas Park on Saturday, only to be disqualified by the stewards. The race was awarded to PURE JUSTICE, with whom he interfered in the last 100 metres. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer