Cliff Williams, Contributor

A lot has been written and said about Miracle Man's wonderful performance in Puerto Rico last weekend when he won the Confraternity Classic for four-year-olds at the El Commandante racetrack, but there are aspects of this victory worthy of further analysis.

Owner Joseph Duany's claim that the horse carried three kilograms more than he was led to believe would have meant the weight requires explanation. Over the distance of the two-turn races weight carried is of vital importance as it has a direct bearing on performance and for the future issues such as this should have absolute clarity.

The connections of Miracle Man were supremely confident he would win. This based on what was their understanding that there would be a significant weight allowance for Jamaican horses since the territory, or for that matter any other country of similar status, had not sent out a winner previously. Fortunately in this instance the horse was good enough to carry the additional weight and succeed brilliantly.

For those who may not be aware, Miracle Man's connections were frustrated last year when there was a vain attempt to get him to Puerto Rico through Miami, Florida. He was diagnosed with tick fever and had to return to Jamaica because of issues with treatment and quarantine.

In terms of the Confraternity Classic race itself, it is of some significance that the winner of the 2005 Caribe de Classic for three-year-olds was beaten easily by Miracle Man now that they meet as four-year-olds.

Competitive

As I pointed out last week, several other horses out of Jamaica that have proved competitive in the Caribe since Harleqiun and Legal Light made the first attempt in 1977. Miracle Man's triumph in the race for four-year-olds has set me to thinking that if the likes of Prince Consort and The Viceroy, truly outstanding racers after winning the 1986 and1989 Derby res-pectively, had run in the Confraternity at four both would almost certainly have proved competitive enough to even win.

I have witnessed many exiting events at Caymanas Park that have evoked even emotional responses from those in attendance, but the reaction to Miracle Man's achievement last Saturday is unprecedented.

From this column, its congratulations to owner Joseph Duany and trainer Allan E. 'Billy Williams, whose absolute faith in the horse's ability gave us something to savour for a lifetime.