BY JIMMIE, STAR Racing Writer
THAT'S IT, RUNNING at odds of 15-1 for trainer Donovan Bruce, sunk all pick-9 bets on Saturday.
It was the second big upset scored by the four-year-old filly following her 32-1 shockeR when registering her maiden victory.
With yesterday's rained-out programme resheduled for tomorrow, the Pick-9 will start at its minimum guaranteed $1m from the third race whereas the Super-6, which yielded 15 winning tickets each worth, $62,822, will open at $500,000 from the sixth race.
Philip Feanny's DISTINCTLY IRISH defends his Governor-General's Stakes crown against FORMALLY GOLD and should be a banker for both Pick-9 and Super-6 players.
Drilled for a rematch against the American-bred filly FORMALLY GOLD, who humbled him at a mile last month, Feanny-trained DISTINCTLY IRISH will again carry top weight of 58.0 kilos but has the distance in his favour this time around.
When the duo last met, FORMALLY GOLD, ridden by ace lightweight jockey Wesley Henry, capitalised on a featherweight 48.0 kilos to make all at odds of 5-1, humbling 1-5 favourite DISTINCTLY IRISH, who could only manage fourth under a crushing 58.0 kilos.
FORMALLY GOLD, who returns with 51.0 kilos, continues to work well but is untested at 2000 metres as opposed to DISTINCTLY IRISH, who has only lost once at the distance.
The bay gelding ran a terrific race when winning the Prime Minister's Stakes in August and if he reproduces that effort FORMALLY GOLD shouldn't stand a chance in the stretch run.
Hi-Pro, part sponsor of the Governor-General's Stakes, has also contributed to the Hi-Pro Ace Trophy for two-year-old Maidens in which Noel Ennevor's WAR LEGEND is the firm favourite.
Working sweetly in the mornings, WAR LEGEND is a classy customer and should get off the mark the first time of asking after posting workouts such as 1:00.1from the gate behind a half-mile split of 46.2.
FLYING START
Wayne DaCosta's speedy SI MI TRIAL should get Pick-9 players off to a flying start in the third race on her return off a four-month lay-up .
The Guineas-winning filly has been showing her usual dash in the mornings, even clocking 33.4 in a three-furlong gallop. Henry has the leg up at 48.0 kilos, the lightest SI MI TRIAL has ever been, and she should go wire-to-wire.
Percy Hussey's BLACK RIVER reports with lasix added in the 1000-metre straight eighth race and should come good after getting a pipe-opener at 1200 metres last month. A rangy dark bay filly, BLACK RIVER kept far better company up to late April when finishing fourth behind MUSICAL MAESTRO, SPANISH FLEET and MUSTANG at 1000 metres straight.
Close all bets with JACK'S CHILD in the ninth at 1000 metres straight and down-in-class DR. R S F in the 11th on the round course.
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