by Jimmie, Star Racing Writer

WEDNESDAY's predictably tough programme took apart Pick-9 players as ASK JOE, at 51-1 in the ninth, followed by JCD SLEW at 250-1 in the nightpan, was asking too much of punters, whose best was seven of nine winners, ensuring the guaranteed jackpot of $1m remained intact at the end of the day.

However, Super-6 players continue to come up trumps with one punter scraping away $1.2m, escaping JCD SLEW in the 11th event as the Super-6 pool closed at the 10th.

JCD SLEW's big upset also derailed Hi-Five players, sending a $337,597 carryover to tomorrow's sixth race, adding to back-to-back Super-6 guarantees of $500,000 over races 1-6 and 7-12.

Early Super-6 players should bank on Gary Subratie's American-bred, FIRST IN THE SAND, in the opening event over a mile following her second-place finish behind CLOCK WORK at 1400 metres on March 29.

Since winning the MegaFone Mile back in November, FIRST IN THE SAND has consistently held her own among Open Allowance and Grade One horses, finishing third to the likes of ALLIEDFORCE and RAMPAGE in back-to-back races before being beaten by CLOCK WORK.

SIR KHAN, NATURALLY ROYAL and PASSA PASSA should ensure a strong early pace, which will suit FIRST IN THE SAND perfectly. The five-year-old mare won't be far behind and should reel in rivals up the lane.

Denrick Chambers' CLUB FOURTEEN in the fourth and Noel Ennevor's MR. BLAIR in the sixth also represent sound early Super-6 bankers, which should be used on the Pick-9, which starts at the third event.

CLUB FOURTEEN hasn't raced since running down the track in MegaFone Mile on Superday when he ventured outside his distance.

A speedy American-bred four-year-old, CLUB FOURTEEN is yet to get off the mark, but has faced better horses than the local bred winners of two races he is up against at 1100 metres. Wayne DaCosta's UNBREAKABLE HEART made all last Saturday to land back-to-back races, but the opposition was nothing compared to the non-winners-of-three CLUB FOURTEEN has been facing since debuting last August, matching speed with the likes of NATURALLY ROYAL, SCHIZANDRA and RUMOUR HAS IT.

MR BLAIR will be treated with lasix for the first time and is expected to respond positively against old rival LITTLERICHBOY, who had pipped him for second in a driving finish won by TRACKING DEVICE early March at tomorrow's distance of 1400 metres.

Ennevor's runner put in an improved performance when run out of it by RAHMAN two weeks ago at 1100 metres and should prove too strong for rivals. He only needs to improve on his start to score a comfortable win.

The second Super-6 should be easier than the first as LADY RAKWALAAY, MISTER OFFICER and LATIN KING should run away with races seven to nine.

Richard Azan's GAMBOA's winning time of 1:32.4 at 1500 metres, coming off a four-month lay-up, makes him a five-star banker in the 11th at 1820 metres and SMILE OUT should get off the mark in the 12th at 1100 metres after being outstayed by MISS ROSE at 1400 metres two weeks ago.