MR SKILL must be given another chance to go all the way tomorrow afternoon when he faces 10 rivals in the 1000-metre straight 10th race for overnight allowance runners.

A speedy three-year-old, MR SKILL faltered in the stretch run at 1100 metres last time out for the second straight race, and was gobbled up by RIO INFINITO, eventually losing third on the line to FREE FALL.

However, his splits were again super fast, 22.4 and 45.3, even though champion jockey Omar Walker tried his best to save the speedster for the stretch run.

At 1000 metres straight, drawn at gate 10 in the 11-horse field, MR SKILL should be able to breeze the first three and a half furlongs and stay on strong enough to hold the cavalry charge at bay.

Walker's decision to stick with MR SKILL should be noted as he had the choice of either of the other two DaCosta runners, SKYWAY EXPRESS and NATURALLY ROYAL.

MR SKILL's main threat, on paper, should be THE BOMBER, last year's Derby winner, who beat DaCosta's runner at 1100 metres back in March.

However, returning off a four-month lay-up in a one-mile event on July 12, his first start since beating MR SKILL on March 24, THE BOMBER looked rather ordinary when brushed aside at the half-mile by RUM TALK.

In addition, his preparation has been suspect, a long break from the exercise track after finishing next-to-last behind RUM TALK, followed by very little activity since the start of this month.

With THE BOMBER suspect and breaking from an unfavourable inside draw, post-position two, MR SKILL should have things his way for the first four furlongs and won't be caught after scorching rivals with torrid splits.

Track Price Plus Pick-6 players should look to HEART OF STEEL, PRINCE NATHANIEL, HONEY BUNNY, BONNIE'S VICTORY, COLLEGE BOY and SPACEMAN for a good payday.

HEART OF STEEL reported off a claim last time out and ran an improved race at 1820 metres for second behind MR BUTCHER on August 1.

The four-year-old filly should easily outstay her rivals at 1700 metres, needing only to track QUEEN ELIZA down the backstretch before taking charge.

PRINCE NATHANIEL beat conditional $180,000 claimers like an out-of-class horse at 1200 metres on July 23 and should have no problems repeating at 1500 metres against open company at the level after posting a decent 1:15.1.

Philip Feanny's HONEY BUNNY has trained really well for the three-year-old fillies-only sixth event at 1200 metres. Her two bullet works, this past week, 34.3 and 47.3, make her a winner under Dane Nelson.

BONNIE'S VICTORY is down in class and will be tough to beat after finishing third at 1500 metres among top-level claimers on July 26.

Beaten by GUIDING LIGHT and FUSILIER on a $445,000 ticket after lasting home at 1820 metres on a $390,000 tag on July 2, BONNIE'S VICTORY should confirm his dominance at the level.

COLLEGE BOY is a five-star banker at 1100 metres on a $220,000 tag in the eighth, stepping down in class, whereas SPACEMAN, Anthony Nunes' three-year-old colt, has worked too good to lose the 1000-metre round ninth race for maidens.