'Chief' to take command of rich Superstakes

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Defending champion MARK MY WORD and his three-year-old rival COMMANDING CHIEF will feature in a big rematch at Caymanas Park today in the 33rd running of the Caymanas Track Limited Superstakes over 2000 metres, to be contested by 11 starters.

The prestigious invitational race offers a whopping purse of $5 million.

In addition to 'Horse of the Year' MARK MY WORD and the July 2 St Leger winner COMMANDING CHIEF, the field also includes the 2009 winner HOMBRE, as well as this year's Derby hero TECHNOMOTO, the Governor's Cup (Lotto Classic) winner ERASMO and recent winner THE GUV.

Strong early pace

With the free-running horses TECHNOMOTO, CLASSIC BEAU and HOMBRE expected to set a strong early pace, it should set up things nicely for top contenders MARK MY WORD and COMMANDING CHIEF.

MARK MY WORD is down to be ridden by champion jockey Omar Walker for big-race trainer Richard Azan and champion owners Elite Bloodstock Limited, while COMMANDING CHIEF has the services of customary rider Paul 'Country' Francis.

Trained by Everal Francis for Doks Stable, COMMANDING CHIEF, who was unraced as a two-year-old and only made his three-year-old debut in May, was beaten for the first time on his sixth start by MARK MY WORD in the inaugural running of the Rum Fire Invitational race (grade one) over 1500 metres on September 24.

On that occasion, MARK BY WORD got first run on the year younger COMMANDING CHIEF entering the straight and held him at bay by 1 3/4 lengths in the fast time of 1:31.0.

Both report trained to the minute - MARK MY WORD (57.0kg) looking sharp at exercise on Sunday morning when galloping seven furlongs in 1:28.2 and COMMANDING CHIEF (54.0kg) breezing seven furlongs in 1:30.4 last Saturday morning and a brisk 2:09.2 over 10 furlongs on October 29.

Although asked to give 3.0kg to COMMANDING CHIEF once again, MARK MY WORD, that will be without the services of favourite rider Dick Cardenas, who is contracted to ride TECHNOMOTO for the Anthony 'Baba' Nunes stable, should prove a very tough opponent as usual. Both are ideally suited to the distance, and their impending clash is worth going miles to see.

According to owner Randy McLean of the Elite Bloodstock Syndicate, MARK MY WORD proved in the recent Rum Fire Invitational that he's still the best native bred horse in the country.

"What's more, he has pleased in his preparation and now back to 10 furlongs over which he is most effective, we are looking forward to a repeat victory despite the presence of Commanding Chief," said McLean.

The connections of COMMANDING CHIEF are just as confident. Owner Orrett Wellington said the talented son of War Marshall-She Knows Beau has progressed along the right lines since racing for the first time in May, and "we anticipate a popular victory".

COMMANDING CHIEF, already a class act, has tremendous scope for further improvement and, in receipt of 3.0kg from MARK MY WORD, should turn the tables over the longer distance of the Superstakes.

The 10-race programme also includes the $2-million Caribbean Sprint Championship, which should provide last year's winner SAINT CECELIA (Shane Ellis up) with another emphatic victory.

The lightly weighted EMPEROR HALL (Cardenas up) gets the nod over RAISE A RUCKUS and CASSANOVA BOY in the $1.5 million CTL Imported Mile.