Sport

Hop on Nunes' triple

By JIMMIE

Star Racing Writer

TRAINER ANTHONY Nunes has a three-timer lined up tomorrow afternoon, NUMERO UNO in the second, back-to-form American-bred ZICKWARTY in the third and THE REAL KING, who has slipped down in class among claimers for the Millard Ziadie Cup.

NUMERO UNO chased home STATE PRINCE at a mile a month ago when treated with lasix. It was a decent effort by the gelding, who disputed the lead with the winner for the first five furlongs before settling for second off the home turn. STATE PRINCE went on to compete in the Grade 1 Jamaica Two-Year-old Stakes and ran prominently for the first half-mile behind KAMIR, COLTRANE and MIRACLE MAN.

Returning with the visor added for speed at 1100 metres, NUMERO UNO cantered in the equipment Tuesday morning and looked ready to face the challenge of the railbirds' choice, the débutante LADY CHACHI and experienced HIGH ROLLER.

LADY CHACHI is being touted as the horse to beat. However, she was scratched lame when nominated to make her début among two-year-old Maidens on Boxing Day. The Howard Jaghai-trained filly had galloped an easy 1:02.4 on the round course four days earlier but has not been asked to do much since, returning Monday to clock a half-mile in 51.0.

A half-sister to the likes of DAT MACHINE and KLASSY THIEF, LADY CHACHI definitely packs some speed but will have the experienced HIGH ROLLER to contend with on the lead. The colt showed good dash at odds of 16-1 in his last race, leading the disqualified winner SPANISH FLEET into the lane three Saturday's ago and only lost third close to home to the late-closing AD INFINITUM.

NUMERO UNO galloped 1:02.0 for five furlongs round in the company of American-bred stablemate EXCLUSIVE RUNNER Sunday morning. EXCLUSIVE RUNNER, who placed third behind CLOCK WORK and QUIET STRENGTH after getting off the mark recently, won the workout in 1:01.1.

Nunes' runner was far from disgraced in that exercise spin and considering his battling second behind PRINCE MOHAWK, after suffering interference down the backstretch and running wide off the quarter bend, should now go one better.

Jackpots at $1.2m

ANNA PERENNA at odds of 36-1 knocked the wind out of Pick-9 bets Saturday, resulting in a $586,731 carryover to tomorrow's programme. The second Super-Six had no big party-crasher and yielded 21 winning tickets each worth $34,791.50. The popular bet will resume with its guaranteed payout of $500,000 tomorrow along with a decent Hi-Five carryover of $161,973.50 to the sixth race.

Nunes' ZICKWARTY is a five-star Pick-9 banker for the 1100-metre third race after his speedy 1000-metre round win mid-December. The American colt looked really good when clocking a fast 59.4 and will not be caught.

THE REAL KING has not raced since August but looked sound enough at exercise Sunday morning when clocking 35.2 on the round course. Taking a big drop from Restricted Stakes to $320,000, claiming looks a bit suspect but the speedy gelding has enough back class to take home the trophy event.