Sport

Hop on Ad Infinitum

A COMPETITIVE three-year-old classic season closes out tomorrow at Caymanas Park with Derby winner MIRACLE MAN set to start favourite in the 2000-metre Jamaica St. Leger.

However, the big chestnut colt will have to be at his best to catch Anthony Nunes' AD INFINITUM, the horse against whom he had to pull out all the stops in the 12-furlong Derby a month ago.

Showing vast improvement after being fitted with a visor two races earlier by trainer Anthony Nunes, AD INFINITUM reported for the Derby, a changed-up animal.

Reproducing his glowing exercise reports in the visor, AD INFINITUM turned back speedy COLTRANE's challenge three furlongs out and was still two lengths clear, on the bridle, entering the straight while MIRACLE MAN chased under the whip.

However, 12 furlongs proved too taxing for AD INFINITUM, who had only got a half-mile gallop heading into the Governor's Cup three weeks earlier before being rushed into serious training for the Derby.

In the end, MIRACLE MAN, who had convincingly beaten AD INFINITUM by four lengths in the Governor's Cup, wore down Nunes' runner close home in the marathon Derby for a length and quarter victory with ROYAL COMMAND a head away in third.

Going two furlongs shorter, AD INFINITUM, who has been setting the exercise track alight, galloping five-and-a-half furlongs in 1:05.4 last Sunday morning, must be given every chance to steal home from MIRACLE MAN and the late-running ROYAL COMMAND, who actually made it three across the track a furlong out in the Derby.

Nunes appears to have sorted out the PANGUR BAN - INFINITY offspring, who's a half-brother to PEACE & LOVE and should have no problems getting the distance, considering he was travelling best of all after 10 furlongs in the Derby.

Jackpots at $1.5m

Several winning favourites sprung many Super-Six winners last week but there were only eight winning Pick-9 tickets each worth $125,000. PLATINUM GLORY's late scratch and THAT'S GOLD 3-1 win in the sixth race shook off what could have been many more winning Pick-9 tickets.

Solid Pick-9 bankers on tomorrow's card are COLTRANE skipping the St. Leger in the fourth at 1300 metres, Philip Feanny's three-year-old debutante, SAYONARA, in the sixth at 1100 metres and WICKY WACKY in the eighth at a mile.

A filly, SAYNONARA, appears quite forward, galloping 1:00.4 from the gate Monday morning as well as a half-mile on the round in 48.0 with stablemate RAKKADASH.

WICKY WACKY should return to winning ways after disappointing last time out, losing in a significantly slower time than he had won in a week earlier.

Track price Plus pick-6 players should round off all bets with Nunes' two-year-oldfirst-timer, VAMANOS, in the first and BADBOYBIN should be a cinch at 1300 metres in the third.