Technomoto to romp Boom St Leger

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

By virtue of his runaway victory in the June 11 Cal's Jamaica Derby, TECHNOMOTO looks the horse to beat in the season's final Classic, the 85th running of the Boom Energy Jamaica St Leger, over 2000 metres at Caymanas Park today.

Twelve native-bred three-year-olds have been declared for the $3.9-million race and in addition to TECHNOMOTO, who scored a huge upset in the Derby, the field includes fellow Classic winners BIG MAN BOYU (2000 Guineas), NIPHAL (1000 Guineas) and CARIDAD (Bigga Oaks), not to mention ERASMO, who romped the Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) over the St Leger distance on May 21 and subsequently finished fourth in the Derby.

Also entered is new kid on the block, COMMANDING CHIEF, who is unbeaten in two starts. Trained by Everal Francis, the lightly raced but impressive chestnut gelding by War Marshall out of She Knows Beau has won twice in fast times, the more recent over 1600 metres on June 22 when prepping for the St Leger.

COMMANDING CHIEF, who only made his debut on May 28 with a fast-time win over 1300 (1:19.2) in maiden company, has tremendous scope and while TECHNOMOTO (working exceptionally well) remains the one to beat based on his Derby demolition, it could be close between the two principals.

There's no telling just how good COMMANDING CHIEF is at this stage and I suspect he will turn in another commanding performance today. Whether it will be good enough to stop the TECHNOMOTO express is left to be seen, but this is going to make the race all the more intriguing.

Outside of TECHNOMOTO and COMMANDING CHIEF, one could also factor in the Gary Subratie-trained BIG MAN BOYU, who lost second on the line in the Derby after going in serious chase of TECHNOMOTO from the half mile.

BIG MAN BOYU, who is scheduled to leave for Trinidad and Tobago next week where he will continue his racing career, has trained well and should be happier with the shorter distance of the St Leger. But it all comes back to TECHNOMOTO, who looked the part at exercise last Sunday morning when galloping six furlongs in an eye popping 1:12.2.

Title-chasing jockey Dick Cardenas will again ride the vastly improved TECHNOMOTO for leading trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes and co-owners Elias Haloute and Stephan Narinesingh.

Elsewhere on the card, Caymanas Park will stage its first-ever all-female race - the $765,000 Boom Female Classic - over 1200 metres (3-y-o non winners of two) to be run in two divisions.

The races have attracted six overseas-based riders, along with Jamaica's own Georgina Sergeon. They will contest races three and five on the 12-race programme, while they will take on their male counterparts in two other races, dubbed the 'Jockeys Clash'.

KING T (Sergeon up) and THE MESSENGER (Kaymarie Kreidel-Aguire) are fancied to win the respecrive sections, while other firm fancies are SHE CAN PREACH in the fourth, GLOBAL WARMING in the seventh, CRUISER in the ninth and DOLLA WIN in the 10th.