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Follow Commanding Chief

Published:Wednesday | September 7, 2011 | 12:00 AM
MISS ATLANTIC STAR (No. 2), with Paul Francis aboard, comes through approaching the wire to get the better of RULE BY SECRECY (Dick Cardenas), in the Monica Todd Memorial, a 3-y-o & Up 180,000 Claiming event over 10 furlongs, at Caymanas Park on Saturday. She won at 7-1. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

The unbeaten three-year-old gelding, COMMANDING CHIEF, ought to be followed when he goes for his fifth win at Caymanas Park today in the three-year-old and up open allowance race over 1500 metres, to be contested by 10 starters.

COMMANDING CHIEF, who was unraced as a two-year-old and made his racecourse debut with an impressive fast-time win over 1300 metres on May 29, has since set the local racing scene on fire, winning the July 2 Boom St Leger in the manner of a top class three-year-old.

He was even more impressive last time out on August 13 when slamming rivals, including the Derby winner TECHNOMOTO, in the Nigel B. Nunes Memorial Cup over 1820 metres, covering the distance in the smart time of 1:55.0kg with Paul 'Country' Francis again riding for trainer Everal Francis.

That 10-length victory stamped the War Marshall-She Knows Beau offspring as something special, and although reverting to a shorter distance today, should still prove too good for rivals even with 57.0kg.

His opponents include the Anthony Nunes-trained TECHNOMOTO, who was a runaway winner of the Cal's Jamaica Derby on June 12, but has been soundly beaten by COMMANDING CHIEF in two subsequent races.

The son of Western Classic has been taken to task at exercise and will be coming to run. But being a natural front runner and matching speed present in the form of DOUBLE THE HONEY, CLASSIC BEAU and HOMBRE, this should set it up nicely for COMMANDING CHIEF, who won't be far off the pace.

His obvious class should take care of TECHNOMOTO and the American colt DOUBLE THE HONEY early in the straight, leaving the Wayne DaCosta-trained CASSANOVA BOY (regaining form) as the exacta horse.

Down-in-class

Meanwhile, the Reca Trophy feature (claiming $450,000-$400,000) over 1400 metres, should provide the down-in-class MAJOR MAYER with his second win of the season.

Trained by Fitzgerald Richards, MAJOR MAYER, who won the Superstakes in 2007, has declined with the years, but ran well enough on a $550,000 claiming tag on August 27 when finishing five lengths fourth to LIKKLE BIT over this trip, to be given the edge in this easier spot.

The eight-year-old gelding looks nicely in with 53.0kg, and, having run consistently well in recent months, his final rattle should take care of the front-running WHEEL N DEAL and THEREALPRINCE in a field of nine.

Competent 2.0kg claiming apprentice Robert Halledeen has the ride.

Other firm fancies on the card are SERIOUS BUSINESS to stave off LITTLE CHUPS in the second race over 1500 metres for maiden three-year-olds; SHEZA SURVIVALIST in the fourth; the stretch-running CRUISER to catch recent winner YESWECAN in the seventh over 1400 metres; and the improving SHEER BLISS over SIR VALIANT in the nightpan.