Sun | Jan 11, 2026

It's time for Messithegreat

Published:Thursday | June 16, 2016 | 7:51 PMOrville Clarke
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Ian Allen
GOLD SCREW (Bebeto Harvey) scoring a runaway five lengths win in the ninth race at Caymanas Park last Saturday.
Ian Allen
NEHEMIAH (right), with Jevanne Erwin aboard, winning last Saturday's sixth race at Caymanas Park. BIG BLACK NATION (Kerry-Gayl Robinson, centre) was second and HELLO LADY (Shane Ellis) took third.
Ian Allen
Michael Marlowe (right), son of the late trainer Valbert Marlowe, greets participating jockeys Omar Simpson (partly hidden) Shane Ellis and Omar Walker after the running of the 1800-metre Valbert Marlowe Memorial Cup, won by MOM’S STUDENT, at Caymanas Park last Saturday, The jockeys finishing in the frame received riding whips and goggles donated by the Marlowe family.
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With the outsiders CONCUR (26-1) and FASTAND FLASHY (11-1) hurting punters in the first two races at Caymanas Park last Saturday, there is a carry-over of $1.2 million in effect for tomorrow's first Super-6 on the 11-race programme.

This will embrace races one to six, while the late Super-6, which starts anew with the guaranteed minimum of $750,000 will be conducted from race six to 11 and the Pick-9 from three to 11.

We look at the first Super-6, which starts with a restricted allowance race (non-winners of three) for four-year-olds and up over the straight to be contested by eight horses, including top contenders MESSITHEGREAT, MARKOFAPRINCE, WELL BLESSED, and the very fit SIR LEYLAND HALL.

All should prove competitive, but it will more than likely come down to MESSITHEGRET, to be ridden by Ian Spence for 14-time champion trainer Philip Feanny, and MARKOFAPRINCE, with Harleston Lewis riding for trainer Carl Anderson.

Both are not only well drawn, but have registered wins over the straight in 2015, but preference is for the speedy MESSITHEGREAT, who is tipped to go all the way from post position six.

Although flattering to deceive in recent months, RAWALPINDI EXPRESS could not have asked for an easier opportunity to finally open his account than in the second race over 1200 metres for maiden five-year-olds and up.

Of the nine starters declared, RAWALPINDI EXPRESS and IDON'TKNOW have shown the ability to win a race this cheap, but with champion jockey Shane Ellis prevailing with the ride aboard the Donovan Plummer RAWALPINDI EXPRESS, the hint should be taken.

Champion trainer Wayne DaCosta holds the key to the third race over 1100 metres with MY WAY, a lightly raced three-year-old gelding by Market Rally out of All In, to be ridden by 3.0kg claiming apprentice Bebeto Harvey.

MY WAY has scored once over the straight from only three starts, having found 1820 metres out of his depth behind MR DOITBETTA on April 24. He has looked real sharp at exercise since, galloping five furlongs in a brisk 1:00.0 flat (bullet work) on June 4 and gets the nod over the speedy LIKE A LADY and URBAN PRINCIPAL in a field of seven.

POCKET MONEY (Andre Powell up) and FLAGRANS (Leo Miller) should fight out the finish of the fourth race over 1200 metres for conditional $180,000 claimers and they are preferred in that order. Then, take the bold front runner DRIPPING IN GOLD (Harvey up) to resume winning ways on the fifth over a mile for high claimers, before closing out the first Super-6 with MIRACLE RIVER (Dane Dawkins up) in the sixth for the Leslie McRae Memorial Trophy for maiden three-year-olds.

FIRST SUPER-6 FANCIES

(1) MESSITHEGREAT/ MARKOFAPRINCE

(2) RAWALPINDI EXPRESS/ IDON'TKNOW

(3) MY WAY

(4) POCKET MONEY/ FLAGRANS

(5) DRIPPING IN GOLD /ITALIANO

(6) MIRACLE RIVER/VELOCIDAD