Commanding Chief slams Nunes rivals

Orville Clarke, Sunday Gleaner Writer

The unbeaten three-year-old gelding, COMMANDING CHIEF, turned in another smashing performance at Caymanas Park yesterday, winning the open allowance feature for the Nigel B. Nunes Memorial Cup over 1820 metres by all of 10 lengths.

Installed a 3-4 favourite with Paul 'Country' Francis aboard, COMMANDING CHIEF, racing for the first time since his emphatic victory in the Boom St Leger on July 2, assumed the lead from last year's winner HOMBRE (8-5) at the 600-metre marker in a field of seven and turned it into a procession.

Also left in his wake was this year's Derby winner TECHNOMOTO (9-2), who led under pressure from hat-trick seeker LITTLE WASP (5-1) before giving way to HOMBRE leaving the half mile and COMMANDING CHIEF as well.

After turning for home four lengths clear of the 2009 Superstakes winner HOMBRE, COMMANDING CHIEF moved away to win in the smart time of 1:55.0, recording his fourth win from as many starts.

PRINCE ROHAN (13-1) closed from last position to beat HOMBRE for second, but following a stewards' inquiry, HOMBRE was disqualified and placed fourth for causing interference to both TECHNOMOTO and LITTLE WASP at the half mile, and TECHNOMOTO promoted to third.

Everyone at the track was impressed by the performance of the Everal Francis-trained COMMANDING CHIEF, a lightly raced chestnut gelding by War Marshall out of She Knows Beau, purchased for $1.3 million in the 2009 yearling sale.

Owned by Orrett Wellington of Doks Stable and bred by Paul Chen, COMMANDING CHIEF only made his racecourse debut on May 28 when romping home by 11 lengths in a 1300-metre maiden race, but elected to bypass the June 11 Derby as he was considered too green then. Wellington recalls:

"Despite having to miss the Derby, I had no doubt that he would be ready for them in the St Leger. He proceeded to win it quite easily and while there were other opportunities for him to race since, like the Prime Minister's Stakes on Independence Day (won by Sir Von), we decided not to rush him," explained Wellington.

Co-features

"Racing is time and patience, and our main objective is to win the Superstakes with him in November," he was quick to add.

Earlier in the afternoon, MEELO (5-2) and POOCHIE LIU (2-1) won the supporting co-features for the Ossie Steele Memorial Cup over 1200 metres and Rhoel Rhoden Memorial Trophy for two-year-olds at 1100 metres, respectively.

MEELO, who held on by a length from the favourite MAJOR MAYER, was ridden by leading jockey Dick Cardenas for trainer Dalton Sirjue, and POOCHIE LIU by Oneil Mullings for champion trainer Wayne DaCosta, who saddled three winners on the card.

Title-chasing jockeys Cardenas (58 wins) and Shane Ellis (55) rode two winners each, while the Pick-9 proved elusive for the eighth consecutive raceday with an $8.8 million carry-over to Wednesday.