Hijo delivers Reggae 6 death blow

HIJO PRIMERO, a 75-1 stunner, who shocked even his trainer, track-analyst Michael Cain, turned yesterday's Reggae 6 on its head, calling janitors into action to get rid of ditched tickets from overflowing bins.

Refitted with cheek pieces and running his first race out of Cain's barn after trailing in his last two races from three starts this season, all in August, HIJO PRIMERO, who had only raced twice last year, delivered a death blow to Reggae 6 tickets.

A payout of nearly $250,000, $244,117 to be exact, was further expounded by female rider Natalie Berger winning back-to-back races aboard EMPRESSINTHEBREEZE, landing the Reggae 6 closer at odds of 8-1.

Whereas HIJO PRIMERO came out of left field, EMPRESSINTHEBREEZE was a no-brainer, having beaten non-winners of two races as a maiden, upsetting at odds of 21-1 at six furlongs on September 28.

Returning as a non-winner-of-two, at the same weight, against the same horses, with an additional half-furlong to travel, EMPRESSINTHEBREEZE was actually a winner with an advantage.

The other four Reggae 6 races were routine. SPARKLING FIRE was always in with a chance in the second against slow-starting favourite YOU'RE MY SWEETIE, who again got caught too far behind.

EASY MONEY and back-to-form CROWN CHASER, last year's Jamaica Derby winner, gave trainer Anthony Nunes a quick two-timer, both favourites, in the third and fourth, respectively, three-year-old maidens and non-winners of four races.

BOBBYTWOBAD, who had bled in his previous race, held up this time around to make all against four-year-old maidens in the fifth at speculative odds of 5-2.

Meanwhile, United States-bred SUPERNATURAL POWER climbed a further $764,000 up the Mouttet Mile qualification ladder with victory over fellow American, TIK TOK, in the Viceroy Trophy at a mile.

Already sitting 10th among horses based in Jamaica prior to January 1, 2025, boasting earnings of $3,329,600, SUPERNATURAL POWER jumped to seventh with stakes of $4,093,600 from seven outings this season.

SUPERNATURAL POWER pushed stablemate RIDEALLDAY, PACK PLAYS and Winston Griffiths Classic winner, local-bred PRETTY PERFECT, down a place each, eighth, ninth and 10th, respectively, in heated tussles for a spot in the US$300,000 Mouttet Mile set for December 6.

The Mouttet Mile has three American invaders confirmed, horses not domiciled in Jamaica before January 1, Sunday's fast-time winner for Jason DaCosta, DOTHRAKI, being the only one to have raced so far.

FORTUNA BELLE, who has 2025 earnings of US$31,980, will race out of Robert Pearson's barn for owners Dr Graham Brown and M Chai Chung. Anthony Nunes will send out NAUTICAL STAR for One Guyana Racing Stable.

October's seven-meet month of racing closes on Saturday with the Reggae 6 opening at $5.1 million.