by Jimmie, Star Racing Writer

CHAMPION trainer Wayne DaCosta's American-bred speedster, CLOCK WORK, should slip topweight DISTINCTLY IRISH and win tomorrow's Eros Trophy over 1400 metres at Caymanas Park.

Unraced since winning the Red Stripe Mile on November 11, CLOCK WORK will be partnered by Charles Hussey and returns with 55.0 kilos, 12 lbs lighter than Philip Feanny's DISTINCTLY IRISH, who will carry 60.5 kilos or 133 pounds with Winston Griffiths.

In addition to the scale of weight, CLOCK WORK also has the distance in his favour as DISTINCTLY IRISH, who last raced when winning the 12-furlong Harry Jackson Memorial on Boxing day, definitely prefers easier-paced races in excess of a mile.

In two races short of 10 furlongs last season, DISTINCTLY IRISH was far from impressive. He had to be pushed out to beat UNTOUCHABLE at a mile on December 16 after bypassing the 1400-metre Gold Cup a week earlier. In September, he was beaten at level weights by PITTACUS, also over a mile.

CLOCK WORK displayed his customary blinding speed to post a cracking 1:37.1 in the Red Stripe Mile, lasting home by three quarters of a length from JUST SOME THOUGHTS, who was five lengths off with a furlong to run.

JUST SOME THOUGHTS hasn't lost in three starts since and is expected to run another big race after convincingly beating Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint champion, RAMPAGE, over 1400 metres in the CTL Gold Cup on December 9.

It wouldn't surprise if JUST SOME THOUGHTS chases home CLOCK WORK again as DISTINCTLY IRISH will be asked to sprint too early with the big weight and could very well pay the price in the stretch run.

Jackpots at $1.5m

UNIQUE SELECTION at odds of 6-1 in the nightpan, was the day's toughest winner as 21 winning Pick-9 combinations each picked up $236,713. The Super-6 had many winners as there were 220 correct combinations, each paying $5,954.

The 11th race Hi-Five with UNIQUE SELECTION atop 21-1 outsider BREAKING NEWS, 7-5 favourite NAVAJOJOE, 9-2 chance CELEBRATION TIME and 7-2 fancy, ME LLAMO, paid a whopping $53,143.

With the Pick-9 back at its $1m guarantee and the Super-6 at $500,000, trainers DaCosta and Anthony Nunes should provide bankers by sharing four winners equally on the 11-race card.

DaCosta should land the 1200-metre seventh event with HIDALGO, who was third behind FOUNDINTHEMIST and Wednes-day's feature race winner, MAJOR MAYER, when last raced in September.

Nunes should win the ninth and 11th races with FELICIDAD and BLOW WIND BLOW respectively.

FELICIDAD ran a stout race against Richard Azan's ROMEZ and is perfectly drawn at 1000 metres straight to go one better and BLOW WIND BLOW is far better than $200,000 Claimers at 1600 metres.