file - ALSAFRA, with Brian Harding up, winning the Jamaica Oaks on April 26.

Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer DISQUALIFIED: GEORGETTE TASHA (centre), with Richard Mitchell up, powering away from rivals in last Saturday's 10th and final race at Caymanas Park. The Lazel Khwalsingh-trained filly, going off at odds of 21-1, was later disqualified and placed sixth for interfering with FIRELINK. The race was awarded to second past the post, 2-1 favourite ROYAL SOLUTION (right), with champion jockey Omar Walker on board.

Orville Clarke, Freelance Reporter

Derby winner ALSAFRA has a date with destiny at Caymanas Park today when she seeks to become only the third filly - behind the legendary MONEYMOON (1937) and SIMPLY MAGIC (2002) - in the annals of local racing, to win the Triple Crown.

She is one of 10 native-bred three-year-olds declared for today's RJR Jamaica St Leger over 2000 metres, the season's final classic.

ALSAFRA, with two-time champion Brian Harding again riding for trainer Fitznahum Williams and owners Sherman Clachar and Norman Gordon, is on course for Triple Crown glory, having won the April 5 Jamaica Licensed Bookmakers 1000 Guineas over 1600 metres and the Digicel Derby over 2400 metres on June 14.

$3 million purse

The 82nd running of the mile and quarter classic, which is being sponsored by the RJR Communica-tions Group for the first time, with a purse of $3 million, has also attracted the 2000 Guineas winner ROYAL IMAGE.

Beaten by three lengths into second place by ALSAFRA in the Derby, he will be gunning for revenge with former champion Shane Ellis riding for trainer Anthony 'Baba' Nunes once again.

Given the shorter distance of the St Leger, it will definitely be closer between the two as they report in good nick for the race, especially ROYAL IMAGE who galloped seven furlongs in 1:28.0 last Sunday morning at exercise, slamming stable-companion EVANDER who also takes his chances today.

While it looks a straight fight between ALSAFRA and ROYAL IMAGE, on paper, others such as the Derby third-place finisher, JOSIE WALES under champion jockey Omar Walker, MINISTEROFJUSTICE with in-form Richard Mitchell aboard and WHEEL N DEAL with Dane Nelson up, could ensure they are extended.

The Richie Todd-trained WHEEL N DEAL dislodged his rider approaching the half mile when racing close up in the Derby, but since then he has looked improved at exercise. Indeed, the son of Alisios - She's On Wheels beat ALSAFRA in a seven-furlong exercise gallop last Saturday morning, clocking 1:28.3 to ALSAFRA's 1:29.3. He is bred to stay the distance and could prove the surprise of the event.

pick-9 carryover $30 million

The Percy Hussey-trained JOSIE WALES won the $3.5 million Supreme Ventures Jamaica 2-Y-O Stakes over 1600 metres last Boxing Day, but missed the season's first classic, the 2000 Guineas, on April 5 while recovering from a knee operation. He showed little behind the filly IT IS I on his seasonal debut in the May 24 Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup), but ran a vastly improved race (always prominent) while finishing third to ALSAFRA and ROYAL IMAGE in the Derby. Now heading in the right direction, JOSIE WALES will not be far away at the end.

Still, from this vantage point, it should come down to the two best three-year-olds in training - ALSAFRA and ROYAL IMAGE.

Having won the Oaks over the St Leger distance in the smart time 2:07.1, ALSAFRA, by virtue of that performance, must be the choice. She has a good, strong pace and with Harding knowing her like a book, the chestnut filly by Legal Process out of the 2007 champion broodmare, Tee Gee Vee, is tipped to outfinish ROYAL IMAGE once again.

On a day when the Pick-9 carryover stands at a whopping $23.3 million, the consistent PRINCE TERRON is tipped to win the RJR Classic ahead of SMOOTH DUDE and PRIME MINISTER, while I also like THE BOMBER in the first race, SIR ROMEL in the third, BDELLIUM in the fourth, SAMMY OH SO in the eighth and MISS EILEEN in the nightpan.