Uncle Peck to steal a march in Reggae 6 opener

TOTAL VELOCITY's 8-1 stunner in last Saturday's fifth race left Reggae 6 players scouring their Track and Pools for clues long after the five-furlong straight event was declared official, unable to fathom the turnaround in form.

The four-year-old maiden, who had passed the winning post a distance behind in all but one of her last 10 races, surprisingly showed speed with hot claiming rider Jaheim Anderson, who remains the only real reason she was worth a second look by any serious punter.

Anderson's win aboard TOTAL VELOCITY kept him joint second in the jockeys' standings with Tevin Foster, moving to six winners following his January 10 three-timer, which included 6-1 and 11-1 winners, JOYFUL SURPRISE and GELROY, respectively.

This weekend's Reggae 6 opens with a $14.8 million single-winner bonus. UNCLE PECK could be a sitter as a lone-speed American after being reeled in by fellow foreigners, ORO ORO and TITAN TEMPO at seven furlongs on January 3.

Despite going a half-furlong longer, UNCLE PECK faces a slower bunch and could steal a march on rivals after cutting fast splits of 35.0, 47.1, 1:00.2 and 1:13.4 on last. Note that the blinkers have been removed by Peter-John Parsard to relax UNCLE PECK on the lead.

Should UNCLE PECK chuck the gallop, either KING PYE or THE GENERAL will close for the kill.

Take speedy AMERICAN AVIATOR and BABY GREY as consecutive bankers in the second and third events before approaching the tricky fourth event with caution. On paper, SUMMER PALACE should make all at five furlongs round. However, returning off a two-month lay-up with no accompanying speed gallop raises red flags, an issue which could be solved by adding NEBUCHADNEZZAR, FEELING FREE and FOUR THIRTY as back-ups.

Flood the fifth at four furlongs straight with five speedy selections - TOROADO STEEL, BALLISTIC MISSILE, RADAM and ALKEBULAN - any of whom can win a blink sprint on their best day.

Go for back-class and speed in the Reggae 6 closer - UNDISCLOSDLOCATION, RESTORATION and PHOENIX DANCER - a trio from which the soundest will prevail.

REGGAE 6

Race 1: 3, 6, 8

Race 2: 1

Race 3: 3

Race 4: 1, 5, 6, 7

Race 5: 1, 4, 5, 7, 9

Race 6: 3, 11, 15

TOTAL: $1,800

TWILIGHT 6

Race 5: 1, 4, 5, 7, 9

Race 6: 3, 11, 15

Race 7: 2

Race 8: 1, 2, 5, 8

Race 9: 5, 9

Race 10: 11

TOTAL: 1,200

BONUS BETS

PLACEPOT 8

Race 3: 3

Race 4: 1, 5, 6, 7

Race 5: 1, 4, 5, 7, 9

Race 6: 3, 11, 15

Race 7: 2

Race 8: 1, 2, 5, 8

Race 9: 5, 9

Race 10: 11

TOTAL: $4,800

BEST THREE

Race 3: Baby Grey

Race 7: Tigray Express

Race 11: Champion Bubbler

OUTSIDER

Race 5: Alkebulan