BY JIMMIE, Star Racing Writer
AMERICAN-BRED SIX-year-old, MY COLLATERAL, re-programmed and
slipped down in class by his new trainer, Welsh Soutar, should win his first
race after 30 attempts on local soil in tomorrow afternoon's 2000-metre Altamont
V. Armond Memorial Cup.
Since moving from Leroy Tomlinson's barn after his last race, seven and a half-length fourth behind BLOW WIND BLOW on November 26, MY COLLATERAL has looked improved at exercise, attracting jockey Paul Francis, who had the option of at least three other mounts in the small seven-horse field.
Prior to changing barns, MY COLLATERAL never did anything much at exercise but has seemingly found fresh legs and galloped an easy 1:32.0 for seven furlongs on New Year's Eve before being put back on ice by Soutar, obviously satisfied with his new charge's response.
LADY ISIS is expected to start favourite after her close fourth behind HI JOE on a higher claiming tag on Saturday but she's still a bit heavy, giving away weight to CRIMSON MAGIC, whose time at 1700 metres on December 10, 1:49.1, was more than seconds better than that clocked by HI JOE.
NO TEAR, who went down by a short head to CRIMSON MAGIC, is also lighter than LADY ISIS but both are up in class against MY COLLATERAL, who ran against far better horses last year even finishing third behind DON LIMPIO at 1000 metres straight.
JACKPOTS AT $2.7M
Back-to-back 5-1 shots HI JOE and DIAMOND KING plus 5-2 market springer RED CHRISTMAS took out most Pick-9 bets before GUIDING LIGHT at 7-2 completed the job, sending a $2.1m carryover to tomorrow's programme.
The Super-6, which had 11 winning combinations, will resume at its guaranteed $500,000, starting at the first race with a second bet opening at the seventh.
Lightweight jockey Wesley Henry should give Pick-9 players a flying start by landing a quick double, FROMRUSSIAWITHLOVE and MY BABY GIRL in the fourth and fifth races respectively.
FROMRUSSIAWITHLOVE scored a cheeky win over ISLAND CIGAR when ridden by Andrew Ramgeet on New Year's Eve, rallying to overhaul his rival at 1500 metres after being passed up the lane.
Going a furlong shorter shouldn't pose any problems for FROMRUSSIAWITHLOVE, who actually led down the backstretch.
MY BABY GIRL's strong fourth behind DANCING SAM, KYSHA BABY and QUEEN TAMARA, with 55.0 kilos, makes her a cinch in the fifth at 1100 metres.
Super-6 players shouldn't hesitate to bank BELLAS GATE BOY in the first at 1500 metres, the hot debutant BELLA IN BLOOM at 1100 metres in the second and SPANISH FLEET at 1000 metres straight in the third.
Finally, Track Price Plus Pick-6 players can bank on down-in-class SAMMY MY GIRL to land the fifth at 1000 metres straight, having beaten $160,000 claimers in back-to-back races before surprising $200,00 0 company when completing a hat-trick of wins late November.
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