Expect a Command performance

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

St Leger winner COMMANDING CHIEF puts his unbeaten record on the line at Caymanas Park today when he takes on the Derby winner TECHNOMOTO and the 2009 Superstakes winner HOMBRE in the open allowance feature for the Nigel B. Nunes Memorial Cup over 1820 metres.

While this trio will be the focus of attention, the race should be truly run, given the presence of the recent dual winners LITTLE WASP and BELOW THE WAIST, both front-running types. Still, it will more than likely come down to the big three - COMMANDING CHIEF, TECHNOMOTO and HOMBRE, who won this race in 2009 and 2010.

can hombre deliver?

Can a fit HOMBRE upstage the classy three-year-olds TECHNOMOTO and COMMANDING CHIEF? True, the six-year-old grey gelding from the stables of Noel Ennevor has won twice from four starts this season, and even though getting on in years, has lost none of his ability, especially going two turns.

He found 1400 metres on the sharp side when chasing home the progressive American colt SIR VON at this level on July 23, and is not only sharper for this race but gets the ideal trip as well.

But he will have to cope with fellow front-runners TECHNOMOTO and LITTLE WASP, both of whom have worked well for today's encounter, and could fall victim to something coming from behind in the seven-horse field.

The Anthony 'Baba' Nunes-trained TECHNO-MOTO emerged one of the easiest Derby winners on June 11 when upsetting the apple cart (32-1) in post-to-post fashion.

He was installed a howling favourite for the St Leger three weeks later as a result, but was run off his legs on the headlines and weakened into seventh place as 'new kid on the block, COMMANDING CHIEF, romped home by 4¹/² lengths with Paul Francis riding for trainer Everal Francis.

three in a row

COMANDING CHIEF duly made it three in a row after making his racecourse debut in maiden company on May 28.

The three-year-old son of War Marshall-She Knows Beau is definitely a class act, and having looked sharp at exercise in preparation for this race, ought to be followed even with 55.0kg.

The race will be run to suit his stalking style and he should take command a furlong out and make it four in a row with 'Country' Francis again at the helm.

Other firm fancies on the card are down-in-class MAJOR MAYER to catch recent winner MEELO in the first race over 1200 metres, newcomer RIO COBRE (working impressively) in the third, ROYAL BLAST in the fourth, POOHIE LIU to go one better in the sixth for the Rhoel Rhoden Memorial Trophy for maiden two-year-olds over 1100 metres, and SIR JAADU BABA to upstage old rival DIABOLICAL KID in the knotty overnight allowance sprint (8th race).