Francis hot on Reggae 6 mandatory-payout day

JOURNEYMAN jockey Paul Francis continues to be a thorn in Reggae 6 players' sides, landing the fourth and fifth events aboard 5-2 chances - including a victory in the stewards' room - resulting in winning tickets each picking up $568,766 from the $20 million jackpot on yesterday's mandatory-payout day.

Francis, who had 10-1 and 8-1 winners in the August 24 Reggae 6, returned to close a three-timer with STORM in the seventh event at odds of 9-5. However, it was his Reggae 6 wins, starting with AAVA JAELYN, that left bettors stumped.

AAVA JAELYN defied the track bias from post-position two to cut down speedy ADENOSINE stealing home at five furlongs straight. Astride PRINCESS IFIYAH in the fifth at five and a half furlongs, Francis lost the stretch battle to MISS LYNTON with leading rider Tevin Foster.

However, fortune smiled on Francis after Robert Halledeen, rider of third past the post BAD INVESTMENT, lodged a jockeys' objection against MISS LYNTON, complaining that the winner had hindered his mount.

The stewards upheld Halledeen's objection by taking down MISS LYNTON's number, placing her third behind 10-1 outsider BAD INVESTMENT, handing Francis and PRINCESS IFIYAH the event.

The Reggae 6 had opened with punters holding their collective breaths, urging 1-2 favourite NINA DORADA across the line to record the narrowest of victories, a nose, ahead of late-charging HEEZALION at odds of 5-2.

TUTS, a must-carry in the second event, made all with Charles Town's visiting rider, Arnaldo Bocachica, handing trainer Adin Williams his 100th career win at Caymanas Park.

However, title-chasing Raddesh Roman upended hundreds of Reggae 6 bets in the third out the five-straight chute astride 9-1 outsider, DESIGN DIVA, beating even-money favourite CHERRY BLOSSOM with Foster by a nose.

With few tickets surviving the onslaught, Anthony Nunes' QUEEN OF SOUL reproduced her exercise form to fight off stablemate IMMEASURABLE JOY and ADIRA, quickening away inside the last furlong with Oneil Mullings at odds of 5-1 for a strong victory in the fillies-only event at six furlongs.

The Reggae 6 starts afresh on Saturday with its minimum-guaranteed payout at $3.5 million.