Sport

Simpson on a triple

WITH THE APPROACH of Hurricane Emily imminent, let's hope she behaves like a SWEET SOUTHERNGAL, this week's pick for what should have been the RJR Communications Group Classic, and stay as far as south as possible from Jamaica and Caymanas Park.

Weather permitting, Philip Feanny's imported SWEET SOUTHERNGAL looks set to finally deliver on her promise when she takes on eight rivals at 1500 metres in her fourth start locally.

Arriving in the island as a US$25,000 Claiming winner in her last start, SWEET SOUTHERNGAL was highly touted but reared at the gate in April's Lady Geeta Trophy and followed that effort with three awful runs spread between Open and Overnight Allowance company.

However, it appears as though Feanny has sorted out the three-year-old American bred filly. Put upside Dwight Chen's progressive SEATTLE'S GIRL, who was the ante-post favourite for tomorrow's event, SWEET SOUTHERNGAL blew away her fellow American in a six-furlong gallop last Sunday morning, clocking 1:12.3 to her rival's 1:13.0.

Considering SEATTLE'S GIRL's impressive form of late, easily chalking up back-to-back wins, brushing aside Wayne DaCosta's CRUCIAL POINT last time out, Wesley Henry-ridden SWEET SOUTHERNGAL must be the horse to beat come rain or shine.

The battle between champion rider Trevor Simpson and Brian Harding should continue this weekend after Simpson's two-timer kept him five winners clear of the Trinidadian following Wednesday's meet.

Simpson has a three-timer lined up tomorrow afternoon, MEDICAL REPORT in the second and two-year-old debutant FIRE WORKS in the fifth, both for Feanny, in addition to VISCOSITY in the nightpan for Dwight Chen.

Jackpots at $1.5m

NASATOL at 17-1 in the seventh event and 6-1 shot STORMY SKY in the eighth left dark clouds over all Super-6 and Pick-9 players on Wednesday, resulting in no winner for either bet.

Simpson fans should go all out with appears to be a solid three-timer for the leading rider. MEDICAL REPORT might have her problems but is still better than top-level Claimers, against whom she will race for the first time at 1000 metres straight.

FIRE WORKS, a half-brother to Kenneth Mattis' COURT CASE, has beaten Percy Hussey's imported CIRCLE THE HEART at exercise and should make no mistake at four furlongs straight.

VISCOSITY, running for a $150,000, after keeping company with PRETTY HILLY at exercise in a 1:01.2 gallop from the gate, is a gift to exotic bet players.

Harding won't be left out in the cold and should boot home Anthony Nunes' LA REINA in the 1400-metre third race. The improving filly ran below her best in the mud on St. Leger Day when finishing down the track behind KINGSTONIAN and stablemate ESTOY LISTO.

Track Price Plus Pick-6 players should start the day with SWEET JADE in the first and LADY CHACHI is a cinch at 1200 metres in the eighth.