Bank on Force De Jour in race one

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The Pick-9 resumes with some competitive-looking races after Wednesday's eight-race card forced a one-day break.

The Pick-9, which offers the guaranteed minimum of $1 million, will embrace races four to 12, the first Super-6 from race one to race six, the overlapping Super-6 from seven to 12.

The card will facilitate two trophy races. These are the 10th running of the Sports Journalists of Jamaica Trophy (claiming $350,000-$300,000) over 1200 metres (fifth race) and the Tsetsi 'Lights Out' Davis Trophy over 1820 metres (11th race), run in honour of the boxer who made a brave bid in the Wray & Nephew Contender Series final on Wednesday.

Davis is a farrier (blacksmith) at Caymanas Park, and CTL, in recognition of his achievement in the ring, has decided to honour him.

We look at the first Super-6, which gets under way with a two-year-old race over 400 metres straight for the Eddie Black Memorial Cup to be contested by six starters.

no mistake

Right off the bat, punters can take the well-forward first-time runner FORCE DE JOUR as a banker. Trained by Anthony Nunes, the bay colt by Sharp Humour out of Song Bird Too has looked more advanced than any of his five opponents, galloping from the gates last Saturday morning in a brisk 1:01.2 by 34.2 at exercise. He should make no mistake with Shane Ellis aboard.

Next on the programme is a 4-y-o and up maiden special over 1200 metres in which MEDICAL CAT and THE PROFESSIONAL should have a private battle for top honours in a field of eight.

Preference is for the Carl Anderson-trained MEDICAL CAT, who has been running consistently well, finishing a length third to SISTA MARGARET over this trip on May 25. The competent 4.0kg claiming apprentice O'Brian White has the ride.

The stretch running SIRMANDI gets the ideal trip in the third race over 1800 metres and will prove too strong for rivals in mid-stretch.

The 'Baba' Nunes-trained 4-y-o colt was a fast-finishing third to PRINCE ANDREW over 1400 metres on May 18, a distance short of his best. He has trained pretty well since and with Nunes calling up smart claiming apprentice Ruja Lahoe, reducing the weight to 51.0kg, SIRMANDI cannot be opposed.

CRUISER has been a model of consistency and will more than likely start favourite for the fourth race over 1700 metres for $180,000 claimers. However, don't be surprised if he is beaten by the down-in-class KING SOLOMON under leading jockey Omar Walker.

Trained by Michael Beecham, KING SOLOMON is not only perfectly drawn on the outside of the 10-horse field but reports in good condition and with the trip no obstacle, should get first run on CRUISER and hold him at bay to the line.

The fifth should see last Saturday's course winner JARREAU (Richard Mitchell up) scoring a repeat victory in the Sports Journalists of Jamaica Trophy over 1200 metres, ahead of down-in-class SI PUEDO (Walker up) in a field of eight.

Then, take the consistent SHINING GOLD (Lahoe up) to outfinish recent winner LIVE WATER in the sixth race over 1100 metres, to be contested by nine $250,000-$210,000 claiming horses.

FIRST SUPER-6 FANCIES

(1) FORCE DE JOUR

(2) MEDICAL CAT/THE PROFESSIONAL

(3) SIRMANDI/EASTWOOD

(4) KING SOLOMON/CRUISER

(5) JARREAU/SI PUEDO

(6) SHINING GOLD/LIVE WATER