Boy Wonder hard to oppose

With only eight races each having been run over the past two racedays at Caymanas Park, Pick-9 wagering resumes at Caymanas Park tomorrow on the biggest raceday of the year, Superday 36.

The Pick-9 will embrace races three to 11 with the guaranteed minimum of $1 million, while the first Super-6 will be conducted from races one to six, the late Super-6 from races six to 11. Both offer the guaranteed minimum of $750,000.

We look at the first Super-6 which gets underway with a $180,000 claiming race over 1300 metres for the Herald Super Rush Trophy to be contested by nine starters. They include leading lights MEROVINGIAN QUEEN under champion jockey Dane Nelson, SUPEM AGO HAPPEN with former champion Omar Walker, AWESOME MARQUE with Jevanne Erwin aboard, PRINCESS SALLEMA to be ridden by in-form Robert Halledeen and the grey SINK THE BISMARK with Paul Ramsay aboard.

close chase

MEROVINGIAN QUEEN, who has good speed, will more than likely set off in front with SINK THE BISMARK in close chase. I expect MEROVINGIAN QUEEN to be caught close home by the down in class PRINCESS SALEMA, who was claimed out of last race by trainer Dennis Lee. She finished a close sixth to AWESOME CODE over 1200 metres in much better company on October 25 and prior to that was beaten a length by WESTERN ROSE over 1400 metres in restricted company.

The four-year-old daughter of Traditional gets the nod over MEROVINGIANQUEEN and SUPEM AGO HAPPEN, both fit animals.

Next on the programme is a non-winner of two race over 1400 metres for four-year-olds and up with eight starters declared. This will more than likely resolve itself into a straight fight between the consistent PRINCESS SHEMIKA with Nelson aboard and recent winner HAIL THE KING with former champion Hubert Bartley again in the saddle. After losing her last two races by narrow margins, PRINCESS SHEMIKA is preferred.

The third race over 1100 metres for native bred two-year-olds should see SMOKEY TOPAZ under veteran jockey Ian Spence and DROPPING IN BLOOD in contention where it matters. Both have shown worthwhile ability, but with champion trainer Wayne DaCosta calling up leading jockey Dick Cardenas for partner DRIPPING IN BLOOD, the hint should be taken.

BIGMAN TING, who failed by a neck to catch LUCAS THE LION over 1200 metres recently, is confidently expected to go one better with Halledeen aboard in the fourth race over 1400 metres for the Seek Exercise Book Trophy.

ALACRANN, who was a fast-finishing second to the unbeaten DANCE WITH ME in the recent Cash Pot Only One for Me Trophy rover 1200 metres, should prove too strong for the unbeaten TURN ME LOOSE in the fifth race over 1300 metres, the HAM Stables Limited Juvenile Sprint for two-year-olds. And the recent fast-time runaway winner BOY WONDER (Walker up) cannot be opposed in the sixth race to be contested by 11 three-year-olds, as he's definitely going places.

FIRST SUPER-6 FANCIES

(1) PRINCESS SALLEMA/MEROVINGIAN QUEEN

(2) PRINCESS SHEMIKA/HAIL THE KING

(3)DRIPPING IN BLOOD/SMOKEY TOPAZ

(4) BIGMAN TING

(5) ALACRANN/TURN ME LOOSE

(6) BOY WONDER