Earn Your Stripes a firm banker

Title-chasing trainer Anthony Nunes should enjoy the first half of tomorrow's big Diamond Mile raceday at Caymanas Park.

Fourteen races are on the card, with the first set to go off at 10 a.m.

Nunes will send out the crack two-year-old colt EARN YOUR STRIPES in Race 7, the final event of the Sunrise-Six. By Nuclear Wayne - Brown Sugar, EARN YOUR STRIPES has been literally burning up the exercise track in recent weeks. On Sunday, he humbled the top-rated BIGDADDYKOOL by three lengths, clocking splits of 1:06.1x59.1 for 1100 metres.

Philip Feanny's CRYPTO-CURRENCY and Richard Azan's SCOOBERT are also working well, but EARN YOUR STRIPES looks to be a cut above this field.

Nunes is also poised to land Race Four, the third event of the Sunrise-Six, with SOY EL SENOR. This five-year-old horse won this overnight allowance race over 1400 metres in an impressive 1:25.0 last year. His connections, it appears, have been preparing him with this race in mind, and he will again be ridden by stable jockey Dick Cardenas. LIGHTNING LILY and RADICAL are also strong contenders, but it is unlikely that they will be able to withstand SOY EL SENOR'S final rush.

ANOTHER WINNER

GIACONDA in Race Five should be another winner for Nunes. This three-year-old filly went to post a 3-5 favourite on October 27 but disappointed her many backers. She returns tomorrow over the same distance but with a change of rider. The bustling former champion jockey Dane Nelson will be aboard, and he could just be the right fit for a horse who has loads of ability but remains a maiden after 11 starts.

In the second event over 1000 metres straight, Race One of the Sunrise-Six, the well-handicapped LADY V can return to winning ways. Trained by Gresford Smith LADY V (55kg) won going away when beating Woodhouse over 800 metres straight on August 25. The latter ran very well against the higher claiming group in a subsequent race, and LADY V returns with just 49kg against horses she beat three months ago and should be a very good bet.

SUNRISE-SIX SELECTIONS

2. LADY V

3. BALLON D'OR

4. SOY EL SENOR

5. GIACONDA

6. ROCKDALE

7. EARN YOUR STRIPES