Tough day for Reggae 6 punters

SATURDAY’s Reggae 6 will feature a mandatory payout for Diamond Mile Day, opening at $14 million, after no punter was able to spot all six winners on a tough day for bettors with only one winning favourite, DRONE STRIKE, who landed the fourth at odds of 9-5 with Raddesh Roman.

The day’s only other winning favourite was RUN JULIE RUN at 3-5 in the Mark My Word Trophy, starting a hat-trick of winners for claiming rider Tajay Suckoo, who next won at 14-1 astride MOHANLAL in the Wayne DaCosta Trophy at a mile before closing his three-timer with Houston Stables’ American, DESERT OF MALIBU at 7-1 in the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame Stakes.

Reggae 6 bettors were rattled from the opening event when SUPER STORM made all at five furlongs round in a battle of female riders, holding on with Natalie Berger ahead of ARMY RECRUIT ridden by Joy Haynes.

SIPPIN ON SUNSHINE uncharacteristically came from behind to land the second at odds of 17-1, beating GREAT WAYNE closing fast along rail after NATURAL DANCER surrendered the lead under pressure in the stretch run.

WAH A GWAAN won the third at odds of 7-2, giving hope to surviving bets, holders of which were received when DRONE STRIKE landed the fourth as the 9-5 favourite.

However, KP CHOICE’s return to form bumped off survivors at odds of 5-1 followed by SHELLY THE ROCKET blasting past rivals on the stands’ side for a 6-1 upset at five furlongs straight for an $8.1 million Reggae 6 carryover.

In the day’s main feature, DESERT OF MALIBU effortlessly tracked CALIFORNIA CROWN from against the rail, Suckoo unperturbed when the leader’s stablemate, DOTHRAKI, inched into second on her outside coming off the home turn.

Switched between horses early in the stretch run, DESERT OF MALIBU overpowered a rallying CALIFORNIA CROWN, winning by a half-length in 1:10.2.

Suckoo’s hat-trick moved him to 38 winners, sitting fourth in the riders’ standings behind Raddesh Roman on 58, Tevin Foster, 48, and Dane Dawkins on 40.

Racing continues at the weekend with the return of the $10 million Diamond Mile for grade-one horses, a win-and-you’re-in for December’s Mouttet Mile.