Sport

Clock Work's revenge

By AINSLEY WALTERS, STAR Sports Writer

TRAINER Wayne DaCosta's CLOCK WORK should avenge his losses to A KING IS BORN by beating up on the Philip Feanny-trained runner's little brother, DISTINCTLY IRISH, in tomorrow's 2000-metre Prime Minister's Stakes.

MIRACLE MAN, the Derby and St. Leger winner will test Graded Stakes company for the first time, toting 48.0 kilos but with CLOCK WORK coming in at only 51.5 kilos, the big chestnut gelding will have to run a lifetime best to topple this field.

Although untested at the distance, CLOCK WORK is the speediest in the line-up and will use his big pace to steal away down the backstretch from DISTINCTLY IRISH, who appears too heavy to follow him with 57.0 kilos.

DISTINCTLY IRISH did finish ahead of CLOCK WORK when landing the 1300-metre Digicel Stakes on June 4 after DaCosta's runner got into a cut-throat duel with A KING IS BORN on the lead. and both horses ran themselves into the ground

Installed an even-money favourite to repeat at 1500 metres in the Chairman's Trophy, DISTINCTLY IRISH was widely expected to once again storm home but got nowhere near A KING IS BORN and second-placed CLOCK WORK at the longer distance.

After failing by only a length to beat A KING IS BORN in the Chairman's Trophy, CLOCK WORK took on the Feanny speedster two Saturdays ago and was again burnt at 1100 metres, finishing third, overhauled by stablemate FORMALLY GOLD close home.

With no A KING IS BORN around, CLOCK WORK can bide his time passing the club house stand before inching away from rivals down the backstretch. The American-bred three-year-old colt showed his versatility at 1700 metres in April, clocking the fastest time at the distance this season, 1:44.4 behind a terrific mile split of 1:36.3.

DaCosta also has ROYAL RUN in the event but the late-kicking six-year-old gelding failed to spark in two races against his stablemate and looks held.

Jackpots at $1.5m

Not even 12-1 outsider MOZURI could stop Pick-9 and Super-Six bettors on Monday. There were three winning Pick-9 tickets each worth $668,673 and the Super-6 returned $144,216 apiece to five winning tickets.

In-form Trinidadian jockey Brian harding has at least a double lined up on the 10-race card, VAMANOS in the fourth at 1000 metres round and ZICKWARTY at 1000 metres straight in the sixth.

VAMANOS, a two-year-old filly who failed on debut to beat MINISTER ON FIRE, should rebound against easier opponents after training extremely well. She got the better of an easy HERECOMESFUDGIE at exercise Monday morning in a five-furlong spin and even finished ahead of stablemate AD INFINITUM at three furlongs after her debut.

ZICKWARTY ran a stout race behind improved KINGSTONIAN two Saturdays ago, chasing the entire way before just losing second to BATTLE OX.

Track Price Plus Pick-6 players can bank on ROBICON, SIR KISSON LAL and JOHNNA-ANN to win the first three races and THE BARBARIAN should go all the way for trainer Richie Todd in the fifth at 1000 metres straight.