Sport

Bank on Jack Be Good

By JIMMIE, Star Racing Writer

BUTCHER MAN, ONE of the most consistent horses in training at Caymanas Park, hunts a hat-trick of wins tomorrow afternoon in Race Three of the Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) Claiming Series.

Trained by Patrick Fong for proud owner Jelf Gray, nine-year-old BUTCHER MAN chalked up his 14th win from 100 starts when landing Race Two of the second tier claiming series at 1400 metres on August 13.

Gliding past SAID I SAID I three furlongs out, BUTCHER MAN coasted home three-and-half lengths clear of NAVIGATOR in a good time of 1:28.3.

BUTCHER MAN's strong win immediately pushed his connections atop the standings in their respective categories of the Series as they had each earned a point off the gelding's eighth place effort in Race One at 1100 metres.

Fong, who also had THE SEA PRINCESS finishing fourth in Race One, leads the trainers' standings with 28 points, eight clear of Louis Richards whereas Gray moved to 22 in the owners' section, two clear of Richards and Paulette Bonnick.

A win in Race Three would give BUTCHER MAN's connections what could be a winning lead in the six-race series.

Although 1000 metres straight might appear too sharp for the ageing gelding, his consistency and fitness plus the presence of champion jockey Trevor Simpson could spell trouble for his nine rivals.

BUTCHER MAN, a half brother to another consistent runner, THE MINISTER, displayed his versatility on August 13 when beating fit ZEALOT at 1200 metres.

That win, not a Series race, made up for Fong's error of fitting the gelding with a visor, which led to him finishing eighth and way behind ZEALOT in Race One.

Back-to-back wins have BUTCHER MAN toting topweight 57.0 kilos but the far striding gelding should be within striking distance coming onto the main track from where he should outfinish the mares LADY SOLO and MOTHER OF PEARL, both of whom are venturing up in class.

Jackpots at $2.3m

ZICKWARTY at 65-1 in the 1300-metre 10th race ensured all jackpots were carried over to tomorrow's 11-race card. The Superfecta carryover stands at $161,617, the Pick-9 is back at its guaranteed $1m and the Super-6 is at $1.1m.

Simpson should have a strong say in whether there'll be another carryover. In addition to BUTCHER MAN, the leading rider looks good aboard SHANIA at 1400 metres, PRIME SUSPECT at 1800 metres and ASTRO CRUNCH at 1400 metres among non-winners-of-two.

Track Price Plus Pick-6 players can bank on back-to-form JACK BE GOOD to make all at 1100 metres for Wayne DaCosta, whose useful two-year-old, SUPER NATURAL, should outbattle Philip Feanny's LAW LORD at 1300 metres in the Dewhurst Stakes.