By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterTWO PUNTERS with 29 points have shared the $59,000 category two first prize declared on last week's Racing Pools game.
They will each receive $29,642.20 but both have secured consolation prizes as well to top the $30,00 mark. The greater slice goes to a Kingston 8 punter whose $2,430 coupon claimed one first, five second and 10 third dividends to clear the $35,000 mark.
The other player hails from St. Thomas and in addition to his first prize, claimed only one second dividend. Both missed the 16-1 outsider PHANTON J.
A breakdown of the other prizes is as follows:
17 second prizes of $996.30 each for 28 points.
65 third prizes of $130.25 each for 27 points.
Despite the Pick-9 epidemic, sales totalled a satisfactory $342,190.00 on 1,728 coupons -- up from $278,419.00 and 1,509 coupons the previous week.
On a day when RUN JAN RUN at evens in the first race emerged the only winning favourite, the game spelt grief for most players and the winning level of 29 points can attest to that.
The upsets were provided by the aforementioned PHANTOM J, NORAN BATMAN at 11-1 in the closing straight five race and BALLAFIRE at 8-1 in the fourth.
Still, other winners such as NAUGHTY BY NATURE and ARCHANGEL, both at odds of 7-2 in the Thornbird and Prince Consort Guineas Trial Stakes, respectively, were overlooked by many who elected to carry the Percy Hussey-trained pair of favourite, AERO COMMANDER and DANCE DIXIE, as bankers.
Indeed, DANCE DIXIE finished a floundering last in the penultimate race to climax a most frustrating day for the Husseys. Installed a 6-5 favourite in a field of nine colts and geldings, DANCE DIXIE hurt his chances by swerving left at the start (swerved) thus losing ground. He was hard ridden on the inside to get back into the race, soon engaged the early leader SCOTCHONTHEROCKS in a deadly duel after a furlong and they ended up cutting each other's throats.
After using up so much energy in the early stages, DANCE DIXIE was first to quit approaching the home turn. And the son of Dixie Dancer finished last and lame.
The Patrick Chang-trained ARCHANGEL established himself as a live classic contender with a decisive victory over the fast-finishing BANJUHAR in the Prince Consort Stakes over 1400 metres, to be unbeaten in three starts.
Bred by Michael Lyncook, the chestnut gelding by Royal Minister out of Shady Angel quickened at a crucial stage to leave the issue beyond doubt. Going the additional furlong of the April 5 Track Price Plus 2000 Guineas, he is sure to prove a tough opponent as no clear cut favourite is evident at this stage following REAR ADMIRAL's defeat in overnight allowance company on Saturday.
The Paul Fung-trained NAUGHTY BY NATURE sent her stocks soaring for the Track Price 1000 Guineas when storming through leaving the furlong pole to win the Thornbird Stakes by five lengths, covering the distance in a faster time (1:26.4) than the colts and geldings a hour later.
From all indications, NAUGHTY BY NATURE is at a stage of rapid improvement and should provide a stern test for the likely ante-post favourite, the Hussey-trained QUIET GIANT, in the 1000 Guineas.
