Sport

Harding on a four-timer

By JIMMIE, Star Racing Writer

TRINIDADIAN JOCKEY Brian Harding, whose book is now being managed by Howard Campbell, the agent who resurrected Dane Nelson's career, should land the first four events on tomorrow's nine-race card.

Harding posted a two-timer on Saturday, which took him to 48 winners this season, six behind champion jockey Trevor Simpson, who starts a two-day ban tomorrow.

Harding should boot home ZICKWARTY in the first, PRETTY HILLY in the second, HIGH CHASE in the third and ALPHA LUPA in the fourth, meaning Simpson could resume riding next Wednesday from second in the standings - especially if the Trinidadian follows up with a good weekend.

Simpson, who has dominated Caymanas Park for the past three years, erasing George HoSang's record of 167 winners in a single season in 2002, hasn't had things his way since parting ways with top trainers Wayne DaCosta and Richie Todd earlier this year.

Dubbed 'Slicer' for his combative riding style, Simpson failed to unsaddle a winner on Saturday even though he picked up a now rare ride, from DaCosta, GATLIN, in the seventh race.

Slapped with a two-day ban for the BATTLE OX incident in which he caused interference to DaCosta's CRUCIAL POINT a couple weeks ago, Simpson certainly has a fight on his hand from Harding, who is first-call at Anthony Nunes' in-form barn plus he has been securing other hot mounts with Campbell taking over from 'Fireball', his previous agent.

ZICKWARTY running on a claiming tag for the first time should easily land the first race at 1100 metres although all is obviously not right with the once highly thought of American-bred colt.

Nunes-trained ZICKWARTY last raced three Saturdays ago and was fourth by two lengths behind improved NASATOL at 1000 metres straight in Overnight Allowance company.

Stepping down to top-level claiming, ZICKWARTY should make all under Harding. The Trinidadian should return to the winners' enclosure aboard Dwight Chen's PRETTY HILLY, who takes all day to get going and will be suited to nine furlongs plus a couple ordinary rivals in the second.

HIGH CHASE has had the measure of almost the entire field in recent races and should finally win her second race in the third at a mile following that decent third behind MICHAEL POWER two Saturdays ago.

ALPHA LUPA, an American-bred three-year-old, has been moving sweetly in the mornings, beating up on stablemate ESTOY LISTO, should put away HOUDINI AGAIN at 1200 metres, completing Harding's four-timer.

Jackpots at $1.9m

JACK EM UP at 6-1 and 12-1 outsider SHOW N' TELL jilted all Pick-9 bets Saturday, sending a $1.4m carryover to tomorrow's card. The Super-Six was collared and will start at its guaranteed $500,000.

Harding and non-claiming apprentice Kerry-Gayl Robinson are set to sweep the programme with possibly seven winners between them.

Robinson, who has been riding in good form, should land a triple - FROMRUSSIAWITHLOVE in the sixth and BUTCHER MAN in the eighth before blowing home with CAUCHEE in the nightpan.