Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

LEONIDAS (No.3) responds to a strong ride from the apprentice Javour Simpson to catch and beat the front-running favourite MACHISMO (Kirk Johnson) by a head in the round five 2-y-o feature for the Royal Lancaster Trophy at Caymanas Park on Saturday. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

A stunning upset by DESIGNED FOR LUCK (21-1) in the closing race over 1600 metres, stopped Pick-9 players in their tracks at the final hurdle on Saturday at Caymanas Park.

Having escaped the first upsetter, RED OCTOBER at 12-1 in the third race, this falling outside the Pick-9 races, punters were propped up by winning favourites ROYAL MALICE, CHOO CHOO CHOO and SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS before catching the silver bullet in the ninthpan.

Going into the last race, many Pick-9 players were banking on the hot ante-post favourite RIZZI LEE under leading jockey Omar Walker to cash in.

However, after leaning one side of the tote board, so to speak, the down in class six-year-old horse was declared a late non-starter at the gate and punters who carried him had to rely on the off-time favourite CHINA TOWN in accordance with the rules and regulations. And CHINA TOWN could only mange seventh.

Fought by outsiders

The race then had a rather open look about it. In the end, it was fought out by two outsiders, DESIGNED FOR LUCK with former champion apprentice Kenyatta Davis aboard and the 72-1 chance FOX MAN, who ran on strongly from below the distance and just failed to overhaul the winner.

The high-five was completed by MAMBO at 10-1, THUNDER CLAP at 38-1 and NEUTRALIZER at 11-1.

It didn't need a rocket scientist to tell us that no one had caught the hi-five and there is a carryover of $134,797.00 going into the sixth race tomorrow, while only two persons caught the second Super-6, each receiving $474,507.00. The Pick-9 carryover is $1 million.

After the ninth race for the Royal Lancaster Trophy, visiting Canadian-based Jamaican jockey Kirk Johnson incurred the wrath of punters with a poor ride aboard 4-5 favourite MACHISMO in the ninth race for the Royal Lancaster Trophy.

After leaving the gates like a bullet to lead comfortably into the straight, MACHISMO was challenged by the chasing LEONIDAS under Javour Simpson approaching the distance.

But, instead of keeping his mount on a straight course and riding him out vigorously, Johnson angled out MACHISMO to meet the challenge and while changing his whip, lost control of the horse who darted out sharply into LEONIDAS, in the end losing by only a head.

Johnson was not only booed by a section of the crowd, but had to endure a proper 'cussing' from irate fans passing the dreaded fence leading into the tunnel.

Bittersweet day

It was a bittersweet day for the jockey who had earlier experienced the thrill of winning his first race at Caymanas Park aboard the Anthony Nunes-trained MASANIELLO, looking a lot more professional while scoring in a driving finish from the speedy favourite MELINDGATA.

A fighting Trevor Simpson rode three winners to close the gap on Walker who surprisingly failed to ride a winner on the card. Walker (80 wins) is now 12 ahead with 11 racedays remaining in 2007.