The 'Chief' romps St Leger

Orville Clarke, Sunday Gleaner Writer

The unbeaten colt COMMANDING CHIEF closed out the three-year-old campaign with an emphatic victory in the season's final classic, the $3.9 million Boom Energy Jamaica St Leger which had its 85th running over 2000 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Installed a 9-5 second favourite with Paul 'Country' Francis again riding the War Marshall - She Knows Beau offspring, COMMANDING CHIEF circled the leader, 2000 Guineas winner BIG MAN BOYU (3-1) at the final bend and sprinted clear up the lane to win by 4¹/² lengths, recording his third win from as many starts.

In the battle for second, COLD GROUND, running at odds of 37-1 with Wesley 'Callaloo' Henry aboard, closed rapidly from off the pace to pip BIG MAN with Allen Maragh astride in a field of 12.

The recent Cal's Derby winner, TECHNO-MOTO, with title-chasing jockey Dick Cardenas riding for leading trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes, flopped as the even-money favourite, finishing a disappointing seventh. This noted front-runner was run into the ground by the speedy fillies NIPHAL (32-1), SWEET TRAIL (39-1) and LUSCIOUS (67-1) during the first half of the race and although heads on for the lead on the inside of NIPHAL approaching the half mile, was left standing by the closers approaching the final bend.

COMMANDING CHIEF, who was held just off the early pace in sixth position, improved sharply as a team with the new leader BIG MAN BOYU at the half mile, but was going so easily on the outside coming out of the turn that it was only a matter of how far he would win.

Bred by Paul Chen, COMMANDING CHIEF, who only made his racecourse debut with a fast-time win over 1300 metres on May 28 in maiden company, raced in the red and black silks of Doks Stables.

Owner Orrett Wellington of Doks Stables said he was extremely confident that his charge would win based on his back-to-back fast-time wins, the last over 1600 metres on June 22.

Enormous ability

"This is a colt with enormous ability and I have such a high regard for him that I felt he would have won by 10 lengths," said an elated Wellington.

Jockey 'Country' Francis, who has partnered him to all three wins, echoed the sentiments of Wellington, adding that he didn't fear TECHNOMOTO despite his impressive Derby win, now that NIPHAL and the other fillies were coming to keep him honest.

Meanwhile, the first-ever all-female race at Caymanas Park, contested by three-year-olds (non winners of two) over 1200 metres, saw the Richard Azan-trained colts TURBINE and THE MESSENGER, both odds-on favourites, making all convincingly.

TURBINE was ridden by Francien Villenuve, who is based at Fort Erie racetrack in Canada, while THE MESSENGER was piloted by the veteran Kaymarie Kriedel-Aguire who rides at Laurel Park in Maryland.

The other visiting riders were Melanie Pinto from Canada, Patricia 'PJ' Lydon from Calder in Florida, Tara Hemmings from Philadelphia Park, Greta Kuntzweiler from Churchill Downs, and our own Georgina Sergeon.

All the visiting riders said the Jamaican experience was great and they are looking forward to returning on Superstakes Day in November.

Champion jockey Omar Walker rode three winners on the 12-race programme.