Doolahin a safe banker

With DI COBRE at 27-1 and KIMMY'S TRAIN at 25-1 scoring upset wins early on the Heroes Day programme, the first Super-6 had no takers. As a result, the carryover to tomorrow's first Super-6 stands at $1.3 million.

The Pick-9 and second Super-6 start anew with $1 million and $750,000, respectively. The Pick-9 will embrace races two to 10, the first Super-6 from race one to six, the late Super-6 from race five to 10.

We look at the first Super-6, which commences with a 4-y-o and up maiden condition race over 1600 metres in which TWILIGHT ROCKET under leading jockey Shane Ellis, MY FAVOURITE DANCER with apprentice Andree Powell aboard, SMART TRAIN under former champion Wesley Henry, and ALL FOR GLORY with Rayan Wilson astride, the fancied horses.

Although the form in maiden races is usually unreliable, TWILIGHT ROCKET from the stables of top-line trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes gets a glorious chance to open his account despite topweight of 57.0kg.

The four-year-old colt beat all barring GIRSHOM over 1400 metres when installed a 3-5 favourite on October 10 but finished 1-1/2 lengths ahead of MY FAVOURITE DANCER in third and SMART TRAIN in fourth. All are expected to figure prominently, none moreso than TWILIGHT ROCKET, who will report even fitter for this race.

STRAIGHTFIGHT

The second race over 1100 metres for $180,000 claimers should come down to a straight fight between hat-trick seekers SIR D, with promising apprentice Linton Steadman again in the saddle and EUSEBIA under four-time champion jockey Omar Walker.

Both are extremely fit, but the Steadman Curtis-trained EUSEBIA looked the more fluent in victory and is given the edge over SIR D and REIGN OVER ALL in an eight-horse field.

The Steven Todd-trained DOOLAHIN has been a model of consistency, having finished 3-1/2 lengths third to ALYCINTH over 1100 metres on Heroes Day, and will prove hard to beat in the third race over 1000 metres for maiden three-year-olds.

The chestnut filly by Legal Process out of Lady Naragin has less to do in present company and with title-chasing jockey Robert Halledeen taking the ride and needing every winner if he hopes to catch Shane Ellis in the championship race, DOOLAHIN is preferred to MEET JUSTIN.

BRAVE PROSPECT, with Ellis riding for trainer Neive Graham and popular owner O'Shaun Connection, is a strong fancy to win the fourth race over 1820 metres to be contested by nine $250,000-$210,000 claiming horses.

A three-year-old colt by Seeking The Glory out of the 1999 derby winner Good Prospect, BRAVE PROSPECT, who was previously trained by 14-time champion Wayne DaCosta, finished 11 lengths fifth to ORIGINAL TRAIN over 1400 metres in much better company last Saturday, and despite the presence of the recent winner AUDRE'S BLESSING and the useful BROWN GIRL, should make no mistake in a race of this nature.

The last two races in the first Super-6 should be won by FRANFIELD, who carries a mere 50.5kg for the services of 4kg claiming apprentice Bebeto Harvey and STIR IT UP under top apprentice rider Linton Steadman. Their respective dangers are TRADITIONAL PRINCE and TASHIE BABY.

FIRST SUPER-6 FANCIES

1. TWILIGHT ROCKET

2. EUSEBIA/SIR D

3. DOOLAHIN

4. BRAVE PROSPECT

5. FRANFIELD/TRADITIONAL PRINCE

6. STIR IT UP/TASHIE BABY