MAKING OUT (Shane Ellis) getting the better of MOUNTERE (left) and DANCIN ROSE to win the seventh race over 1200 metres at Caymanas Park on Wednesday. She was an even-money favourite. - Photos by Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

With the Pick-9 proving elusive at Caymanas Park on Wednesday once again, the carryover to tomorrow's pre-Xmas race meet stands at a cool $2.6 million.

A payout of close to $4 million looks a real possibility, given the level of betting anticipated going into Christmas. Fifty-four punters with eight of nine winners won consolation prizes of $3,219.00 each.

The Pick-9 will embrace races two to 10; the Super-6 from four to nine. We look at the Super-6 which gets under way with a 3-y-o maiden condition race over the straight five course to be contested by 11 starters.

Indications are that victory will go to the well-advanced debutant RISK REWARDS, to be ridden by Panamanian jockey Dick Cardenas for his guv'nor, Percy Hussey.

The three-year-old bay gelding by Vanadium out of La Grande Dame should have made his debut back in March, but went lame prior to race time and had to be scratched. In recent weeks he has been burning up the track at exercise, galloping out of the straight in a brisk 1:00.2 Tuesday morning, the first four in 46.3.

RISK REWARDS definitely looks a cut above the average maiden and should win from RUN SMILE RUN, HERETOETERNITY and SALUTE THE LAW, all of whom have shown a liking for the straight.

Next on the programme is a three-year-old and up overnight allowance race to be contested by seven starters, including SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS, who failed by a length to catch MINISTEROFJUSTICE over 1300 metres last Saturday. Also returning are HAIL THE GENIUS and TOBAGO, who finished close up in third and fourth, respectively, in the same race. In fact, only a length separated the three, but SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS still seems capable of holding her old rivals at bay. The sparingly raced imported filly LADY HASTINGS, who was unbeaten in two races as a two-year-old in 2007, has been looking up at exercise coming into this race, and could prove the biggest danger to SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS.

Straight five course

SUMMER PRINCESS, having finished second (running on) to RANKING over the straight five course last Saturday, is tipped to go one better over 1200 metres in the sixth race, where old rival MISS CREE looks her principal danger. MISS CREE has the speed to set off in front, but I suspect she will be caught by SUMMER PRINCESS in deep stretch in a field of eight.

LITTLE BAY, who not only has good speed but has been stepped up at exercise by trainer Spencer Chung, should take a lot of catching in the seventh race over 1100 metres, while the eighth race for three-year-olds over 1300 metres should come down to a straight fight between FLAGAMAN and the recent runaway winner TWENTYFIRSTOFJUNE. It promises to be close, but the chestnut gelding FLAGAMAN under Shane Ellis is preferred to the filly.

Race number nine, the sixth and final in the second CTL Claiming Series over 1500 metres, looks made to order for SAMBA DANCER, who failed by three-quarter length to stave off out-of-class GOOD COMPANY over 1600 metres on November 29.

Now dropped in class, the Ryan Darby's five-year-old gelding should win from stable-companion ABSOLUTE STORMER, KEELER and THUNDER CLAP in a field of 10.

SUPER-6 FANCIES

(4) RISK REWARDS

(5) SHE'S OUTRAGEOUS/ LADY HASTINGS/TOBAGO

(6) SUMMER PRINCESS/ MISS CREE

(7) LITTLE BAY/LADY WALES(8) FLAGAMAN/TWENTYFIRSTOFJUNE

(9) SAMBA DANCER/ ABSOLUTE POWER/KEELER