Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
ALLIEDFORCE is driven out by Paul 'Country' Francis to win the season's final classic, the $2.75 million Jamaica St. Leger over 2000 metres at Caymanas Park yesterday. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
THE LOTTO Classic (Governor's Cup) winner ALLIEDFORCE humbled his Derby conqueror RANSOM MAN at Caymanas Park yesterday, thanks to a convincing win in the $2.75 million Jamaica St. Leger over 2000 metres, the season's final classic.
Installed a 5-2 second favourite in a field of nine native-bred three-year-olds, ALLIEDFORCE, with former two-time champion apprentice Paul 'Country' Francis aboard, came through approaching the distance to win by 1 3/4 lengths from the howling 1-2 favourite RANSOM MAN under champion jockey Brian Harding.
Finishing third, a farther three lengths adrift, was the Derby runner-up HIDALGO (8-1) under top jockey Trevor Simpson, with fourth going to the 1000 Guineas and Oaks heroine SWING BY (3-1) with Charles Hussey astride.
RACED PROMINENTLY
ALLIEDFORCE, who is conditioned by veteran trainer Noel Ennevor, raced prominently on the inside passing the stands for the first time as the 2000 Guineas winner RAMPAGE (7-1) led from the filly SWING BY and RANSOM MAN.
RAMPAGE, the mount of title-chasing jockey Wesley 'Callaloo' Henry, turned into the backstretch with RANSOM MAN and SWING BY in hot pursuit, with ALLIEDFORCE still handily placed on the rails in fourth position at this stage.
As the race progressed, RAMPAGE was joined by the Eraldo Fulleron-trained RANSOM MAN from the halfway stage. Both raced neck and neck passing the half mile, ahead of ALLIEDFORCE slipping into third and seemingly biding his time.
But when Harding sent through RANSOM MAN approaching the 600-metre pole and he turned for home two lengths clear of ALLIEDFORCE gone second, the race was far from over.
RANSOM MAN, however, came under pressure early in the straight, began to wobble under the whip, and ALLIEDFORCE moved in for the kill. He disposed of RANSOM MAN approaching the distance and kept on strongly to win his second major race of the season, both over 2000 metres.
Despite running below par (fourth) as the favourite behind RANSOM MAN in the June 3 Digicel Derby, trainer Noel Ennevor felt ALLIEDFORCE had a good chance of turning the tables over the shorter distance.
"I felt I had a point to prove," said Ennevor. 'He wasn't right for the Derby. So I told the owner that if his preparation went right for this race, I would beat Ransom Man by four lengths.
"He ran well today and Francis rode a perfect race. I didn't even give him any instructions. I just told him to ride an intelligent race ... to use his head," explained Ennevor who was saddling his first St. Leger winner.
FIRST CLASSIC WINNER
Francis, meanwhile, chalked up his first classic winner since he started riding as an apprentice in November of 2002.
The elated jockey said he went in with a game plan and it paid dividends:
"Coming from the number one post position, I planned to take the shortest route on the inside
rails until coming outside for my challenge at the final bend. When I saw Ransom Man swerving under pressure early in the straight, I knew he was a spent force."
Purchased for $760,000 in the 2004 Yearling Sale at Caymanas Park, ALLIEDFORCE is owned by Donald Williams and bred by HAM Stables Limited. The 3-y-o chestnut colt by Market Rally out of the Element mare Royal Colours has won five aces from only seven starts for total stakes earnings of $3.7 million.
On a day when nine favourites obliged, Henry (Toot Di Hoot, Emmveepee, Explosive Peak) rode three winners, Harding two, Hussey one, while Simpson was winless.
As a result, the jockeys' standings could not be closer. Simpson, Harding and Henry are joint leaders with 41 winners each, two ahead of Hussey.
