The Jamaica Star :: Sport :: Josie Wales a safe banker

Jimmie, Star Racing Writer

PERCY HUSSEY'S JOSIE WALES has worked sweetly for tomorrow's feature, the 2000-metre Joseph Ashenheim Memorial Bowl, after placing third in the Jamaica Derby and St Leger classics behind ALSAFRA and ROYAL IMAGE.

JOSIE WALES chased home the top two three-year-olds in the season's final classics, proving he was back to form after picking up an injury during his Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes victory last December.

Galloping six furlongs on the round this week Tuesday, JOSIE WALES clocked six furlongs in 1:14.3, a decent workout ahead of tomorrow's feature.

There isn't much finishing speed in the event to bother JOSIE WALES but another back-to-form runner, Anthony Nunes' AD INFINITUM, is a dangerous contender, who punters hunting the $38 million Pick-9 carryover should be wary of AD INFINITUM himself returned off a lengthy lay-up, a year and five months, on June 28, and ran evenly for sixth behind SLOGAN.

In his next race, AD INFINITUM placed third behind TOBAGO and PRINCE TERRON in a fast-run 1500-metre race on St Leger Day. For his second run in 17 months, AD INFINITUM did pretty well and if JOSIE WALES fails to fire, Nunes' runner will take advantage.

SUITABLE DISTANCE

However, the distance suits JOSIE WALES and with LIKKLE BIT in the line-up to harass AD INFINITUM down the backstretch, Hussey's runner should be closing too fast for rivals in the stretch run and is a likely Pick-9 banker.

Another classic-place horse, MINISTEROFJUSTICE, is also a Pick-9 banker. MINISTEROFJUSTICE placed second in the Lotto Classic and fourth in the St Leger, making him a banker against non-winners-of-two at 1700 metres.

STAR Sports Pick-9 horse, PRINCESS ZANAI, won at odds of 9-1 on Wednesday, giving all a shot at the big carryover. However, MUSICAL MAESTRO's disqualification and BLONDIE BLONDIE's 8-1 upset wrecked all bets.

For tomorrow, in addition to JOSIE WALES and MINISTEROFJUSTICE, also use KING OF THE TRACK, GUIDING LIGHT and BACK POCKET, as bankers before spreading bets in the remaining Pick-9 races.

KING OF THE TRACK will have to be caught at 1000 metres straight. Having already established himself as a sprinter, KING OF THE TRACK's last run at 1300 metres, fourth behind DOLLA WIN, should be used as a yardstick.

RENATA, who was third in that event, a length and a quarter ahead of KING OF THE TRACK, franked the form by outfinishing TESSANNE on Wednesday.

GUIDING LIGHT is back down in class after flirting with Overnight Allowance off a claim on July 12. The six-year-old gelding has trained well for the 1500-metre event, seven furlongs in 1:31.2 last Saturday.

He rarely runs a bad race at top level claiming, winning at a mile on Derby Day before finishing fast for third at 1400 metres behind JACK BE GOOD and STRONG DELIVERY.

BACK POCKET is down in class at $180,000 claiming for the eight event at 1000 metres straight, her favourite distance, after placing third behind DOUBLE BOW and return winner THUNDER STORM on July 2.