KINGSTON, Jamaica - Despite the powerful win in Sunday’s (June 19) Mr Lover Lover Trophy feature race by I Realise, trainer Alford Brown said that his charge will not run in the Jamaica St Leger and he will instead aim the bay gelding toward the Jamaica Derby, the season’s third and final Classic race.
Ridden by Anthony Thomas, I Realise produced an impressive performance to defeat rivals by 5 ½ lengths in Division 2 of the Restricted Allowance II (non-winners of two) event over nine furlongs and 25 yards (1,820m). I Realise won in a time of 1:58.3, better than the time of 1:59.1 he did over the same distance when releasing the maiden tag on May 23.
I Realise sat second behind Silent Mission (Reyan Lewis) for the first part of the race before taking control approaching the six-furlong (1,200m) point. Heading towards the half-mile, Thomas allowed Prince Sanjay (Romario Spencer) to go by but reclaimed the lead turning for home and never gave up his gallop, winning easily.
Bred by Northern Giant out of the Royal Minister mare Regina Royale, I Realise won ahead of Rainsville (Dick Cardenas) in second and Stomp The Rhythm (Allen Maragh) in third.
“Well, to be honest with you, I expected it. I had expected this performance and I still expect him to improve because he is still green. He is still running and idling; he was idling around the two-and-a-half furlong pole and the jockey had to straighten him out and he got going again. He is young; he is getting there and I expect good things from him,” Brown said.
Brown believes he will need more time to prepare his horse to face the talented Atomica and Blue Vinyl in a Classic race.
“I am not going into the St Leger as I am instead programming him for the Jamaica Derby. The St Leger, well, to be honest with you, it is a little bit too close to this race and I am going to need time to prepare him for that race.
“To go on and face those two big horses, you have to have the proper preparation and so I think I will take my chance going longer in the 12-furlong Jamaica Derby instead of the St Leger. There’s a Restricted Stakes race coming up in July and I will use that and point him towards the Derby,” he explained.
