Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
CHADMAN is pushed out by champion jockey Omar Walker to win the She's On Wheels Trophy over 1100 metres at Caymanas Park on Saturday. The 5-2 shot was one of three winners on the card for Walker. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance photographer
Despite the presence of two trophy races on today's mid-week programme at Caymanas Park, the focus of attention will definitely be on the mammoth Pick-9 which boasts a whopping carryover of $32.3 million.
Having eluded punters for 17 consecutive race days last Saturday, a pay-out in excess of $37 million looks a mere formality - if caught.
Mild upsets by MINISTER-OFFINANCE at 7-1 in the 10th race for overnight allowance horses along with the 5-1 shots KEELER, KRISS MISS and RED GENERAL ensured that punters will be sharpening their knives once again.
Passed the record
This Pick-9 has long passed the previous record of $20 million paid out some years ago. Along the way, it has emptied the pockets of punters and today's activity could be the most intense yet.
Given the enormous jackpot, Pick-9 fever should grip the park from early, as no punter worth his weight in gold will want to be left out of the pickle. Post time is 1:30 p.m. and the Pick-9 will embrace all nine races on the card.
The day's five-star banker comes via the reigning champion sprinter MUSICAL MAESTRO, who steps down in class to open allowance company for the third race over the straight five course. He has little to beat and with only 55.0kg, looks the closest thing to a racing certainty in months.
Meanwhile, BABY RENEE, now dropped in class after finishing a close second to WINNING MESSAGE over 1200 metres on a $220,000 claiming tag recently, should lead home HAFIFA and BUSTER JACK in Race No. I of the second CTL Claiming Series over the round five course.
Trainer Wesley Perkins and jockey Devon A. Thomas had notable success with the six-year-old mare at the backend of last season and now back to good form, she looks the right choice with a mere 52.0kg.
Nine have been declared for the Aston Commock Memorial Trophy restricted allowance III (non winners of three other than) and here it should come down to a straight fight between GETAWAYBOY (knocking at the door) under champion jockey Omar Walker and the late-kicking HAIL THE GENIUS (Philip Clunis up) from the stables of Gary Subratie.
Close race
When both last met over 1800 metres recently, HAIL THE GENIUS finished heads on with GETAWAYBOY for second behind easy winner JADORE and it should be pretty close between them once again.
GETAWAYBOY is 1.0kg better off today and with connections opting for the leading jockey, he thus gets the vote.
I also like the down in class LIGHT MY FIRE to lead home PLEASURE CRUISE and POWER CRACKER in the opening race over 1200 metres, MISS CREE to stave off HI-TECH in the second, TESSANNE in the sixth, MAHA-RANI over KING OF THE TRACK in the seventh and SIMPLY AWESOME ahead of KING AL and ZEALOT in the nightpan.
