Outsiders wreck Reggae-6

UNBELIEVABLE FORCE turned out to be the only 'safe' banker on Saturday's tough Reggae 6, which returned $264,770 to tickets surviving a deadly combination, turnaround of poor form and inexplicable loss of recent form.

From the outset, form players were left scratching heads and nursing wounded tickets when EAZY PEAZY beat a bunch of stayers to land the opening event at odds of 8-1, pouncing on CALIFORNIA GOLD, who tried to make all at nine furlongs and 25 yards.

The stayers did exactly as their running style suggests, they all stayed at home, finishing within a neck of each other behind EAZY PEAZY and CALIFORNIA GOLD.

BROWN SKIN GIRL, in particular, finished next-to-last, technically last-past-the-post, because WOW HOW failed to finish the event.

With that dagger firmly stuck in the side of the Reggae 6, holders of surviving tickets let out a collective sigh of relief after 3-5 favourite UNBELIEVABLE FORCE made all with Raddesh Roman, his first of five winners on the nine-race card.

Though UNBELIEVABLE FORCE was backed as a banker and won impressively, most Reggae 6 bettors had guardedly carried GOODBYE FIREFLY as insurance, considering both Americans were reporting off strong victories.

Having to use both UNBELIEVABLE FORCE and GOODBYE FIREFLY doubled stakes wagered, causing bettors to opt out of using market-springer LION OF EKATI in the third at seven furlongs.

Bettors who might have closed their eyes and banked UNBELIEVABLE FORCE, made the textbook error of ignoring LION OF EKATI changing stables, which led to a complete reversal of form and a romp for the American, effectively sinking a ton of Reggae 6 bets.

Similar to BROWN SKIN GIRL's disappearing act in the opening event, 3-5 favourite WATERMAN JOHN's performance in the fourth at seven furlongs left most bets in shreds. A disqualified winner on September 7, WATERMAN JOHN finished down the track, tables turned by runaway winner SIR WONG DON and MONEY BOX.

POPE'S LADY's early scratch in the fifth caused more headache, opening the event, which a cleverly placed PLAYFAIR won at odds of 6-1. Competing mainly against classic runners since winning on debut, PLAYFAIR showed his true colours, outmuscling stablemate SMART TRICK.

Most surviving bets got the kiss of death in the sixth, FAITH DOWNIE, who made all with Roman at odds of 7-1, reproducing her exercise gallops with stablemate A GIFT FROM BEN.

Racing continues at the weekend with a Saturday-Sunday meet.