By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer 
Rear Admiral
ALL ROADS lead to Caymanas Park today for the 83rd running of the $3 million Red Stripe Jamaica Derby for native bred three-year-olds over 2400 metres.
Sponsored by Red Stripe under its flagship product, the 'Level The Vibes' Derby promises to be an intriguing contest among the 15 starters and could be as close as the one in 2000 when the subsequent Triple Crown winner I'MSATISFIED won in a blanket finish from GENERAL VERRAZANO and RESTLESS WARRIOR.
Derby history aside, the well supported 12-race programme also features the million-dollar Red Stripe Dash over 1200 metres for native bred three-year-olds, the $500,000 Red Stripe Cradle Stakes for native bred two-year-olds over 800 metres straight, as well as the $625,000 Chairman's Trophy over 1500 metres for top-class horses, a race in which the reigning 'Horse of the Year' I'MSATISFIED takes on six opponents including last year's runaway winner METEOR MAN.
Among the top contenders for the premier classic are the Track Price Plus 2000 Guineas winner A KING IS BORN, to be ridden by leading all-time classic winning jockey Winston Griffiths, stable-companion and Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) winner HERECOMESFUDGIE, the mount of former champion Wesley Henry, the Guineas runner-up REAR ADMIRAL under four-time champion Charles Hussey, and the Lotto Classic runner-up PITTACUS, to be ridden by Trinidadian jockey Brian Harding.
Obviously, the above-mentioned quartet will carry the bulk of the betting and while I expect the winner to emerge from this group, others such as the Oaks heroine NAUGHTY BY NATURE, the mount of champion jockey Trevor Simpson, the improving filly THEIA with Neville "Briggy" Stephenson up and the beaten Lotto Classic favourite BANJUHAR, under Larris Allen, will attract some support.
Many-time champion trainer Philip Feanny who posted the filly SIMPLY MAGIC to win last year, holds a very strong hand in A KING IS BORN, owned by the Hamark Farms and HERECOMESFUDGIE who sports the red, yellow and blue silks of popular owner Joseph "Fudgie" Duany.
A KING IS BORN represents speed and class, a combination that could prove lethal, especially with Derby winning jockey "Fanna" Griffiths aboard.
There is a school of thought that suggests the chestnut colt by Royal Minister out the 1990 Derby winner Distinctly Native will not effectively stay a distance of ground, but I do not subscribe to that view.
The fact is that A KING IS BORN boasts superior speed and if able to slow down the pace sufficiently before kicking on from the half mile, could hold them at bay to the very end.
Whatever happens, A KING IS BORN will not go down easily.
If he fails to stay, HERECOMESFUDGIE will be right there to capitalise as he is sure to stay a distance of ground.
Being lightly raced, the bay gelding by Law Of The Sea out of Hya has much scope for improvement and having looked the part in his preparation, is going to prove a pretty tough opponent.
True, he won the Lotto Classic under a postage stamp impost of 48.5kg and in effect will be renewing rivalry with the runner-up PITTACUS on 7.5kg worse terms. Despite this, the anticipated improvement from "Fudgie" should go a far away to cement his claims.
Trainer Percy Hussey, who is yet to saddle a Derby winner, has a strong candidate in REAR ADMIRAL and a possible upsetter in the Lotto Classic third, THEIA.
Working together, both have impressed at exercise as the big day approaches. Of the two, the Husseys will be pinning their hopes mainly on REAR ADMIRAL, and rightly so.
After winning the rich and prestigious Jamaica Lottery Company 2-Y-O Stakes over a mile last Boxing Day, the bay colt by Law Of The Sea out of La Grande Dame was a fast-finishing second to A KING IS BORN in the 2000 Guineas, a race in which some say he experienced traffic problems otherwise it would have been closer.
REAR ADMIRAL has not only had a long and steady preparation but will run on lasix for the first time as well. The fact that he packs a good turn of foot makes him a good bet to overhaul the free running A KING IS BORN and PITTACUS up the lane. Indeed, REAR ADMIRAL catches my fancy.
Trainer Anthony Nunes, who posted TERREMOTO to win the 1998 Derby with Hussey aboard, bids for number two with PITTACUS. The bay gelding is bred to get to get a distance of ground and judging from that big effort in the Lotto Classic under 56kg, the task at hand is not beyond him.
All factors considered, REAR ADMIRAL seems best equipped to take home this rich prize for the Husseys - jockey Charlie, trainer Percy and owner/breeder Ruth. Still, it should be an intriguing contest.
I also like the Feanny-trained THE VICE (working well, speedy) to win the Red Stripe Dash, stable-companion I'MSATISFIED to stave MILLIMETRE in the Chairman's Trophy and CRUCIAL POINT over SARAH'S GIRL in the Cradle Stakes.
