Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
ALLIEDFORCE
ALL ROADS lead to Caymanas Park today for the 86th running of the Digicel Jamaica Derby to be contested by 13 native bred three-year-olds over 2400 metres for a whopping purse of $4 million.
The massive 14-race programme also features the $1.35 million Digicel Irish Jamaican Stakes over 1300 metres for top class horses, as well as the Digicel Juvenile Stakes for two-year-olds to be run in two sections over 600 metres straight.
Included in the Derby line-up is the April 1 2000 Guineas winner RAMPAGE who can keep his Triple Crown hopes alive by winning today.
Significantly, leading jockey Charles Hussey, who rode the Richard Azan owned and trained RAMPAGE in the 2000 Guineas and also in the May 13 Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) in which he finished fourth to ALLIEDFORCE under top weight of 57.0kg., has switched to the Wayne DaCosta-trained HIDALGO.
BACK-TO-BACK WINS
RAMPAGE (visor off) now has the services of Florida-based Jamaican jockey Allen Maragh, who seeks back-to-back Derby wins, having won aboard the Billy Williams-trained MIRACLE MAN last year.
Indeed, the first four past the post in the Lotto Classic - ALLIEDFORCE from the stables of veteran trainer Noel Ennevor, RANSOM MAN, HIDALGO and RAMPAGE - renew rivalry today. And if one were to add the improving CLASSY BOY PETE to the mix, it promises to be the most competitive Derby in years.
CLASSY BOY PETE beat a good field of three-year-olds in a pretty good time over 1400 metres last Saturday and despite coming back so quickly for this gruelling race, 14-time champion trainer Philip Feanny, is optimistic. He said after CLASSY BOY PETE's win last Saturday:
"He was short of a race so I started him today to see how he would run.... The opposition (Derby) to say the least is certainly modest and not the best crop of three-year-olds we have had in some time.
"No one horse has stood out. Rampage seems to be the best but it's left to be seen if he'll get the trip. Classy Boy Pete falls into the majority and we'll have to see if he stays, but you don't have a chance if you're not in the race," he said.
Simpson, who has never won the Derby, again has the leg over CLASSY BOY PETE who is seeking to become Feanny's fifth Derby winner since I'MSATISFIED in 2000.
HIDALGO, Hussey's choice of ride today, was a fast-finishing third in the mile and quarter Lotto Classic, getting up within shades of the wire to pip a fading RAMPAGE and given the additional 400 metres of the Derby, the 'Hall of Fame' jockey must have fancied his chances to have made the switch. HIDALGO should go close.
Both ALLIEDFORCE and RANSOM MAN are back for a crack at this rich prize, with leading all-time classic winning jockey Winston Griffiths down to ride ALLIEDFORCE for the first time and champion jockey Brian Harding taking the ride on the lightly raced but fast improving RANSOM MAN.
HIGH HOPES
RANSOM MAN is trained by Eraldo Fullerton who controls a small string of horses. But hopes are high in his camp, especially after the bay gelding by Ghost Ransom out of Dame O'Mandy turned heads at exercise last Saturday morning when galloping 12 furlongs, the last seven in 1:28.1.
He carried only 50.0kg in the Lotto Classic and is now being asked to sit level with ALLIEDFORCE and RAMPAGE. But Fullerton can take comfort in the fact that RANSOM MAN is improving at the right time and has tremendous scope.
There was a lot to like about the manner in which ALLIEDFORCE won the Lotto Classic and even though 4.0kg worse off with RAMPAGE, this chestnut colt by Market Rally out of the Element mare Royal Colours is bred to stay and can get the job done over a mile and a half. He is my firm fancy.
I also like the Feanny-trained QUIET STRENGTH to rebound in the Digicel Irish Jamaican Stakes, RIZZI LEE in the second, VICTORIA 11th and JACK DE PRINCE 14th.
