Upsetters ensure big payout in Reggae 6

RADDESH Roman won Sunday's first two races, booting home 2-5 favourite SIR WONG DON and FLYBLUEJET at 2-1, leaving Reggae 6 bettors smiling before a quartet of upsetters started an avalanche, turning the remainder of the nine-race card on its head, resulting in a $773,547 payout, following Saturday's modest $12,853 return.

Claiming-rider Richie Shakes, who handed punters a four-timer gut punch, started his outsider assault aboard PRINCE DANIEL in the third at 9-1, breaking from post-position one at five furlongs straight to turn tables on CW TREASURE and 8-5 favourite SWEET BERN who had finished ahead of him in back-to-back races.

MO AVIATOR won the fourth as a mild upsetter at 5-1, also using speed to overcome an inside draw out the straight, fending off challengers in the three-furlong dash from post-position two with claiming-rider Emeliio McLean.

Journeyman Phillip Parchment's rousing come-from-behind finish aboard 16-1 stunner CAPTAIN FANTASTIC cut down speedsters LINSTEAD MARKET, CHERRY BLOSSOM and MISS LYNTON, who engaged in cut-throat tactics on the lead, leaving the closer to swallow them a furlong out for a runaway win at five and a half furlongs.

Shakes completed the Reggae 6 demolition job in the sixth aboard 20-1 shocker, BADBADTANESHA, nailing 2-1 favourite MODERN MONARCH stealing home with Tevin Foster.

Combining with trainer Michael Marlowe, who had struck with CAPTAIN FANTASTIC, Shakes returned to leave punters reeling in the seventh, pushing home 34-1 outsider SLAM SHARP, who stalked 1-2 favourite BOB THE BUILDER, BRAHMA BULL and FOUR THIRTY before outfinishing rail-running LOCKDOWN at a mile in the seventh.

Confirming that the day belonged to him, Shakes closed his four-timer with 4-1 chance AUSTOA, who outbattled 4-5 favourite AWESOME EMMA in the eighth, coasting home four and a quarter lengths clear of her maiden rivals in the fillies-only event at five and a half furlongs.

Next Saturday's Reggae 6 opens with a $6.3m single-winner bonus, starting the weekend's dual meet.