The Jamaica Star :: Sport :: Princess Zanai for Pick -9

Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer

PRINCESS ZANAI is the horse Pick-9 bettors need to keep on all bets tomorrow afternoon when they go after the $32.3 million carryover, starting from the very first race on the programme.

Dwight Chen's MUSICAL MAESTRO, ridiculously dropping from Graded Stakes, where he carried 60.5 kilos up to May 24, has been given the usual pardon to slip down to Open Allowance with 55.0 kilos, making him a banker in the third race at 1000 metres straight.

However, the remainder of the programme is no walk in the park and the eighth event, the 1700-metre Aston Commock Memorial for non-winners-of-four, is a knotty event for which PRINCESS ZANAI should not be overlooked.

PRINCESS ZANAI's form appears unappealing, finishing outside the frame in three of her last four races and scratched lame at the gate in the other.

However, her last run, nine-and -three-quarter lengths fifth, at 1000 metres straight, behind SECRET HIDEAWAY, OUTFITHER and FELICIDAD, was an eye-catching one, suggesting the four-year-old filly is ready for a big run.

She last won on March 29, beating LADY RAKWALAAY and JADORE at 2000 metres. She afterwards suffered faulty gear up in class at 1000 metres straight with very little chance against RIO INFINITO. Her next attempt was also a tall order, taking on seasoned non-winners-of-four, and finished down the track behind PRIME MINISTER, SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS and HAIL THE GENIUS.

Renews rivalry

PRINCESS ZANAI renews rivalry with HAIL THE GENIUS, who should start favourite but is guilty of being a 'one-move' horse, lacking the turn of foot to quicken in the lane if there's honest pace throughout.

Tuned for her return, PRINCESS ZANAI has enough pace to get ahead of the colts HAIL THE GENIUS, GETAWAYBOY and GALLAVANTER. Note her bullet work last Tuesday morning, 1:19.4 for six furlongs, and the visor fitted by trainer Louis Richards.

If she leaves the half-mile in charge, the colts and XPRESS CARD could be chasing in vain up the lane.

Another likely Pick-9 beater is GOOD HOPE in the 1100-metre fourth race. Raced mainly over longer distances by champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, GOOD HOPE is quietly a versatile runner, who has every chance of upsetting his more fancied rivals sprinting.

Note the splits of his last race, 46.3 and 1:12.3, when chasing PLEASURE FLIGHT at a mile all day on July 2. PLEASURE FLIGHT returned in the St Leger to race prominently to the half-mile in the company of ROYAL IMAGE, WHEEL 'N' DEAL and the big horse ALSAFRA.

GOOD HOPE has kept nothing but rich company and his class gives him every chance against less experienced runners.

However, BABY RENEE and RENATA are five-star bankers in the fifth and sixth races respectively.

BABY RENEE should go one better at 1000 metres round after being outfinished by WINNING MESSAGE at 1200 metres in the fifth and RENATA should not be caught in the sixth at 1100 metres.