Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
Miracle Man (left), under a strong ride from Allen Maragh, getting the better of Ad Infinitum (Brian Harding), to win the 79th running of the Jamaica St. Leger over 2000 metres at Caymanas Park in June. With Miracle Man and Distinctly Irish absent, Ad Infinitum is expected to waltz away with today's Grade One supporting feature for the Harry Jackson Memorial Cup over 2400 metres. - IAN ALLEN/STAFFPHOTOGRAPHER
IT'S HOLIDAY racing at Caymanas Park today, the well-supported 13-race programme showcasing the traditional Boxing Day feature, the $3 million Supreme Ventures Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes over 1600 metres.
If that wasn't enough, there is the grade one supporting feature for the Harry Jackson Memorial Cup to be contested by eight starters over 2400 metres. This has the distinction of being the longest race on the calendar, along with the Derby.
With both MIRACLE MAN and last year's winner DISTINCTLY IRISH notable absentees from the line-up, the race should come down to a three-cornered tussle involving AD INFINITUM under leading jockey Brian Harding and FORMALLY GOLD, who shoulders topweight of 58.0kg with four-time champion Charles Hussey aboard and stable-companion NATURAL DESIRE, the mount of in-form Wesley Henry.
FORMALLY GOLD and AD INFINITUM were beaten into second and fourth places by CLOCK WORK in the Gold Cup over 1400 metres on December 17, just over a length separating them at the finish.
Today, however, the Anthony Nunes-trained AD INFINITUM enjoys a massive 9.5kg swing in the scales, which is more than sufficient to turn the tables, especially over the longer distance.
FORMALLY GOLD will no doubt set off in front. But escaping the consistent AD INFINITUM over this trip won't be easy and a bigger danger to the Derby runner-up could well be Wayne DaCosta's NATURAL DESIRE.
The 3-y-o bay gelding not only finished a good fourth to MIRACLE MAN and AD INFINITUM in the June 4 Digicel Derby but advertised his well being 10 days ago with a smooth victory over the circular nine course.
Returning on the convenient mark of 51.0 with Henry again in the saddle, NATURAL DESIRE should make a good race of it. Still, the choice has to be AD INFINITUM who seemingly has a bit more class.
OWNER'S CHAMPIONSHIP
Victory for either AD INFINITUM or FORMALLY GOLD in this valuable race should go a far way in securing the owner's championship for either Elias Haloute or Alexander Haber, respectively. Haber ($11.88 million) leads by a mere $300,000 coming into today's meet and $682,500 is earmarked for the winner of the Harry Jackson.
Meanwhile, 11 starters have been declared for the SVL Jamaica 2-Y-O Stakes, including the hot ante-post favourite RAMPAGE who looked awesome when winning race number two in the $8 million Super Challenge Series over 1400 metres on November 26.
RAMPAGE was unfortunately disqualified for causing interference to HAWAIIAN DANCER at the half-mile and the race awarded to MITAKA who nosed out stable-companion MINISTER OF FIRE for second. But RAMPAGE was reinstated by the Jamaica Racing Commission six days later following a successful appeal by his owner/trainer Richard Azan.
RAMPAGE has twice won over 1400 metres. However, on November 12 he was caught napping on the line by the 19-1 outsider CHRISTMAS GIFT (who missed the race) in the $1.5 million Red Stripe 2-Y-O Breeders' Stakes over 1400 metres.
This paves the way for RAMPAGE to assert his authority and, despite the claims of consistent MINISTER ON FIRE, CALABASH BAY and the Azan-trained ACHILLES, the bay colt by Pat N' Jack-Arantxa, who was purchased for $1.3 million in the 2004 yearling sale, will not be easily denied with Hussey now taking over the reins from Florida-based Allen Maragh.
Other firm fancies on the card are WHITE DIAMOND in the 2nd race, JOHNNA-ANN in the 7th, SOY MUJER to catch SHAN FABULOSO in the 8th, EXPLOSIVE PEAK to go all the way in the 10th and CONCORDE over SHE'S A MAVERICK and PACKHU in the closing race.
