Sun | Jun 16, 2024

Azan's Janiboutice to sprint clear of rivals

Published:Friday | May 29, 2015 | 11:57 AMOrville Clarke
Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer Jockey Shane Ellis (left) gets down to work on FAST AND FLASHY to win last Monday's (Labour Day) eighth race at Caymanas Park. JUST LIKE EMMA (right) with Orayne Simpson up was second. The winner is owned by Mark Scully and trained by Welsh Soutar.

JANIBOUTICE is set to sprint away from rivals in the three-year-old and up overnight allowance feature over the round five course at Caymanas Park today.

Trained by Richard Azan for champion and leading owners Elite Bloodstock Limited, the speedy American four-year-old grey filly led at a fast clip from a poor draw on the far side in the recent 'Sarge' Bucknor Memorial Cup over the straight. She was only collared by BORDER LINE in the last furlong of what was a fast-run race. She was beaten 13/4 lengths in a time of 57.2.

Now that much sharper, having looked fluent at exercise last Sunday morning, JANIBOUTICE should set off in front from the number-three post position and make all with Paul 'Country' Francis again riding her from the convenient mark of 51kg.

JANIBOUTICE, who has been somewhat lightly raced for the better part of the past year, notched her last win in last August when leading home CRUCIAL APPEAL over the straight in restricted company.

She's obviously on the winning trail again and, although her seven opponents will be giving no quarter, should hold them at bay in the closing stages. Among them are old rivals BUTLER CABIN, who was 31/2 lengths fourth In the Bucknor Memorial, as well as free-running WOMAN IS BOSS (fifth) and then favourite RIO COBRE, who finished down the field in 10th place.

Others such as recent course winner LADY SHANKARI and OFFICIAL REPORT should ensure worthwhile opposition, but the biggest danger to JANIBOUTICE must be Wayne DaCosta-trained RIO COBRE, who not only returns 2kg lighter, 55kg, under in-form Robert Halledeen, but has looked sharper at exercise in preparation for this race.

With the Pick-9 eluding punters yet again on Labour Day, it offers a whopping carryover of $11.8 million to today's meet. With heavy betting anticipated, a payout in excess of $14 million looks a real possibility.

The Pick-9 will be conducted from race two to 10, the first Super-6 from race one to six, the late Super-6 from race five to 10. Pick-9 bankers are XQUISITE CHOICE in the third race, GEORGIAMYLOVE (fourth), GRANVILLE GRETA (seventh) and STORMONTHESEA (eighth).