Jamaica Gleaner
Published: Friday | March 6, 2009
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Stay with Steel De Cat
Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer


In a stunning upset, the 41-1 outsider KIng Usain, ridden by Ameth Robles, storms through to win the sixth race over 1400m for native-bred three-year-olds at Caymanas Park on Wednesday. KING USAIN was one of three winners for trainer Gary Subratie. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Despite a 41-1 upset by KING USAIN in the sixth race at Caymanas Park on Wednesday, both the Pick-9 and Super-6 were caught.

They start anew tomorrow with the Pick-9 embracing all nine races on the card, the Super-6 from race four to nine. We look at the Super-6 which gets under way with a four-year-old and up restricted allowance race over 1200 metres to be contested by nine starters, including the lightly raced STEEL DE CAT, who made an auspicious debut over the straight five course on February 18, covering the distance in the smart time of 58.4.

Owned and trained by Carl 'Django' Anderson, STEEL DE CAT won in a manner (17 1/2 lengths) that would suggest he ought to be followed, even though he can expect worthwhile opposition from LADY WALES and SLIM TING in a field of nine.

Straight fight

Next on the programme is a three-year-old sprint (non-winners of two) which should come down to a straight fight between SUGAR'S IMAGE and BELLA, both speedy times. The Percy Hussey-trained filly BELLA won impressively over the distance in the good time of 1:06.4 on February 14 and continues to please at exercise.

However, preference is for the Wayne DaCosta-trained gelding SUGAR'S IMAGE, who finished 1 1/2 lengths fifth to the Hussey-trained NAVAL COMMANDER over the distance in the recent Sir Howard Stakes. SUGAR'S IMAGE returns in good nick and should give champion jockey Omar Walker another winner in his quest to retain the championship.

Walker and DaCosta should again team up to win the sixth race over the straight for $180,000 claimers with THREE QUEENS, a three-year-old filly who has been thrown in for a tag at this the lowest level. The chestnut filly by He'stherealthing out of Bold Queen, who won as a two-year-old in May of last year, galloped 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:09.0 by 1:01.2 at exercise on February 18, and despite finishing down the track behind KING USAIN on Wednesday, should be able to take care of DIGI N' JIGGY and WE WILL SEE (both down in class) at this lowly level.

WINNING MESSAGE should bring fitness into play and lead home FUSILIER and CASH PAT in the seventh race over 1300 metres, while the vastly improved REGAL SELECTION, who bids for his third consecutive trophy race win this season, cannot be opposed in the eighth race over 1800 metres for the Zaleucus Trophy, as he's heading straight to the top.

Then, take the promising three-year-old TWIST OF FATE (Lasix administered), who chased home IT IS WRITTEN in the recent Mercury Sprint, to lead home SIR JAADU BABA in the closing race for maiden three-year-olds, again over the straight.

SUPER-6 FANCIES

(4) STEEL DE CAT/LADY WALES

(5) SUGAR'S IMAGE/BELLA

(6) THREE QUEENS/DIGI N' JIGGY

(7) WINNING MESSAGE/ FUSILIER

(8) REGAL SELECTION

(9) TWIST OF FATE/SIR JAADU BABA

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