Trio of upsetters rock Reggae 6

A DEADLY trio of upsetters rocked Saturday's Reggae 6, resulting in a $906,823 dividend, one meet after the lowest-ever mandatory payout, reminding punters that favourites can never be taken on face value, requiring in-depth vetting, leaving no possibility to chance.

Fireworks started at the opening event with ZION'S PRINCESS striking at 8-1, followed by 10-1 shot SOLO BLACK chasing down 1-2 favourite THE GENERAL in the third. The Reggae 6 coup de grace cut down most bets in the closing sixth event, the grey GOLDEN SYRUP closing from downtown at odds of 23-1.

RICORICORICO delivered, as expected, at 2-5 in the second and BRAHMA BULL did very much the same at 1-5 in the fourth. WILSON completed back-to-back wins at odds of 2-1, giving form players solace with this Saturday's Reggae 6 single-winner jackpot started at $1.9 million.

Scouring the form book for answers, SOLO BLACK was running on a barn change, first time out for Lawrence Freemantle, turning tables on THE GENERAL, who had beaten him out of sight two weeks prior when finishing second to SHE's ADORABLE.

GOLDEN SYRUP, whose last seven starts were dismal performances, races which her stablemates either won or placed, reported with blinkers fitted to beat CAPTAIN PHILLIPPS, who she was 14 lengths behind last time out.

One of three winners for Anthony Nunes, GOLDEN SYRUP helped the three-time champion trainer extend his stakes lead over champion trainer Jason DaCosta. Nunes opened his three-timer with favourite BRAHMA BULL among three-year-old maidens in the fourth and closed the card with gate-to-wire winner SMART TRICK, a return winner after beating non-winners of two races on New Year's Day.

Meanwhile, Gary Subratie's American four-year-old filly, DIGITAL ONE, capitalised on CALIFORNIA CROWN and BOOTYLICIOUS' speed duel to score a come-from-behind five-length win with Dane Dawkins in the SVREL 8th Anniversary Trophy at five and a half furlongs.

The International Women's Day co-feature was won by United States-bred GEOLITHIC, at odds of 10-1, going nine furlongs and 25 yards.

GEOLITHIC used her searing speed to tear away from rivals down the backstretch with Panamanian Ismael Velasquez, who had enough in reserve to take several peeks between his legs in the stretch run.