Orville Clarke, Freelance Reporter

PRINCESS ZANAI (left), running at odds of 9-1 with Devon A. Thomas aboard, holds on in a gruelling stretch run to beat the Jason Simpson-ridden SPECIAL CAT (out of pic) in the Aston Commock Memorial Trophy, principal feature over 1700 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday. HAIL THE GENIUS (Larris Allen, centre), finished third while GETAWAYBOY (right), with champion jockey Omar Walker aboard, finished fourth. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

The monster Pick-9 eluded punters for the 18th consecutive raceday at Caymanas Park yesterday, and as things now stand, a $40 million payday awaits a lucky punter this Saturday.

With the day's five-star banker MUSICAL MAESTRO winning and losing the race in the Stewards' Room and notable upsets by UNQUESTIONABLE at 14-1 and PRINCESS ZANAI at 9-1, there was no way the popular exotic bet was going to be caught.

As a result, the carryover to Saturday's meet stands at a whopping $38.6 million.

Heavy betting expected

With heavy betting expected on Saturday, a payout in excess of $45 million looks a mere formality, if it is caught.

MUSICAL MAESTRO, the reigning champion sprinter, was considered the closest thing to a racing certainty in many moons, having been dropped in class from grade one company to open allowance against five inferior opponents in the third race over the straight five course.

Installed a howling 1-4 favourite, MUSICAL MAESTRO won by 2-1/4 lengths with five-time champion jockey Trevor Simpson riding for trainer Dwight Chen, only to be disqualified and placed last following a Stewards inquiry, this for causing repeated and multiple interference from the halfway stage.

Angled across

Worst drawn at post position one, MUSICAL MAESTRO angled across while coming on to the main track, packing in the horses on his outside, including the grey NASATOL (5-1), who was knocked about between horses as a result.

MUSICAL MAESTRO lengthened his srtrides in the last furlong to win ahead of stable companion ASKAWOMAN (8-1), who was subsequently awarded the race with lightweight jockey Peter Bryan aboard, as NASATOL under champion jockey Omar Walker was promoted to second.

The disqualification of MUSICAL MAESTRO did not go over well with punters, who used him as a banker in both the Pick-9 and Super-6, which eluded punters as well. However, looking at the replay of the race, his disqualification appeared justified.

Meanwhile, UNQUESTIONABLE made virtually all the running to win Race No I in the second CTL Claiming Series ($220,000-$190,000), over 1000 metres round, by 1-1/2 lengths from the fast-finishing LE CHIC and RED GENERAL in a field of eight.

The 8-5 favourite, BABY RENEE, could only manage fourth.

An eight-year-old bay gelding by Pat N Jac out of Arresting Beauty, UNQUESTIONABLE was ridden by Kerry-Gaye Robinson for owner Kary Neale and trainer Robert Darby Sr.

The day's co-feature for the Aston Commock Memorial Cup over 1700 metres was won by the Louis Richards-owned and trained PRINCESS ZANAI (9-1), who made most. The 4-y-o filly was one of two winners for jockey Devon A. Thomas on the nine-race card.