Start Reggae 6 with Lion Of Ekati

A QUARTET of losing favourites, sprinkled with two outsiders, DASHALLDAY at 9-1 and JOYFUL SURPRISE's 6-1 shocker, upended Reggae 6 bettors last Saturday, resulting in a $520,224 payout and an $8m single-winner pot to start this weekend.

Local-bred DASHALLDAY outbattled his stablemate, United States-bred 1-2 favourite, EXCEEDING BEYOND, a US$57,000 Keeneland purchase to rock the Reggae 6 boat in the second event.

JOYFUL SURPRISE made every post a winning one in the fourth at nine furlongs and 25 yards, wiring the likes of 9-5 chance ROARING KITTY, who had beaten her by 15 lengths when placing second to I'MOUTSTANDING at seven furlongs on December 20.

Punch-drunk Reggae 6 bettors can start with a banker this weekend, LION OF EKATI, going for a fifth consecutive win among $350,000 claimers.

However, the second at six furlongs for three-year-old fillies, maidens, is a sprint for horses barely out of their two-year-old season, hence caution must be observed. GIVING THANKS is bred to sprint and ran reasonably well for second on debut behind the grey TAYLOR MADE , who had Abigail Able aboard as a passenger.

Anthony Nunes ANOTHER WOW, who was slowly away on her debut but came charging from a hopeless position, badly tailed off down the backstretch, deserves another chance at six furlongs.

The third could be a tricky affair although Nunes' BATTLE ANGEL appears the obvious choice to mow down optional $700,000 claimers at five and a half furlongs.

SIPPIN ON SUNSHINE has good speed and can steal a march should BATTLE ANGEL fall too far behind the pace. BLOOD MOON followed up his 43-1 upset by chasing UNCLE PECK into the lane on last at seven furlongs, which could make him a dangerous closer.

Bank Jason DaCosta's American debutante, ROMAN LADY, in the fourth at five furlongs straight. LAST POSSESSION also gets the nod with lasix administered in the fifth among local four-year-old maidens, fillies only, after being reeled in by YOU'RE MY SWEETIE at six furlongs.

Go four-deep to close the Reggae 6 - LINSTEAD MARKET, SUCCESSFUL MAN, RUBY'S LIGHT and MONSTER VIGOROUS - a dizzy optional-claiming event spanning five age cohorts of inconsistent runners.

REGGAE 6

Race 1: 15

Race 2: 1, 6

Race 3: 1, 2, 7

Race 4: 6

Race 5: 3

Race 6: 1, 4, 7, 9

TOTAL: $240

TWILIGHT 6

Race 3: 1, 2, 7

Race 4: 6

Race 5: 3

Race 6: 1, 4, 7, 9

Race 7: 2, 3, 11

Race 8: 3

TOTAL: $360

BONUS BETS

LATE 5 STAR

Race 4: 6

Race 5: 3

Race 6: 1, 4, 7, 9

Race 7: 2, 3, 11

Race 8: 3

TOTAL: $120

BEST THREE

Race 4: Roman Lady

Race 5: Last Possession

Race 8: Nautical Star