KINGSTON, Jamaica – The preparations are over and 12 horses will go to post for the 10-furlong Classic – the Jamaica St Leger on Saturday, next - July 3, 2021.
In analyzing the 12 starters, THE QUICK GALLOPER is going to stick to the tried and tested formula of creating different categories.
The first category includes horses whose chances of winning this Classic race are almost non-existent.
The horses in the first category are:
Prince Marshall, racing with first-time Lasix and a winner of one of his three races to date.
Simba The Lion – a greenhorn with one win from two starts and -
T Brady who has failed to hit the frame in his last four outings at the non-winners of two level.
The second category includes horses with a mere flicker of a chance of winning.
The horses in the second category are Santorini, Bern Notice, Calculus, and Secret Identity.
Santorini – This chestnut gelding will enjoy the distance but that is about it.
Bern Notice – From his nine starts Bern Notice has won only once but he gives the impression that he will benefit from going two turns. Of note is the fact that Bern Notice is the only horse in the line-up to race over two turns to date.
Calculus – Recently changed stables moving from champion Anthony Nunes to Gary Subratie. Calculus although seemingly comfortable at 10 furlongs will have to improve significantly if he is to win this St Leger. Calculus races with the figure 8 on.
Secret Identity – Showed some ability in the past but was undone like most of the other three-year-old fillies by She’s A Wonder in the 1000. Might interrupt others on the headlines.
The third and final category is where all things being equal the winner will come from.
Horses in the third category are Nuclear Noon, Further and Beyond, She’s A Wonder, Amy The Butcher, and Miniature Man.
Nuclear Noon after winning two straight making him reach the non-four level, ran his heart out to finish second by 1 ½ lengths in the 2000 Guineas. In the St Leger, the only question to be asked is “can Nuclear Noon effectively get 10 furlongs? Except for Bern Notice, all the other 11 horses in the St Leger have never raced longer than eight furlongs, so, it is a true learning curve for all. Nuclear Noon has talent and should be watched closely.
Further and Beyond was not himself in the 2000 but word has been circulating that he has found his true self again and a better effort is expected from him in the St Leger. Further and Beyond is the champion two-year-old and with She’s A Wonder are the only two horses in the Leger field to win five races. If Further and Beyond is at his best then the St Leger will be worth going miles to witness.
Amy The Butcher is a credit to her connections especially trainer Patrick Fong. Amy The Butcher is the most raced horse in the St Leger (13 starts) and enters the fray with toughness and a never say die attitude. She was, like all the other three-year-old fillies, destroyed by She’s A Wonder in the 1000. Yet despite that crushing defeat, Amy The Butcher has to be respected and is a good shot in the Superfecta and Hi-Five wagers.
She’s A Wonder requires little introduction. She is the top-ranking three-year-old filly in the land and may even be the top-rated filly in training at the moment as there is no member of the female sex excelling in the top classes these days. She’s A Wonder has not lost a race in her five starts this year and is reported by her trainer Ian Parsard to be easy to train, responsive and tough. There is a lingering doubt if She’s A Wonder can get 10 furlongs but apart from one St Leger entrant, the others have the same bridge to cross. More than likely She’s A Wonder will be settled in front by jockey Reyan Lewis with the 2021 St Leger becoming a catch me if you can episode. It is of great significance to note that She’s A Wonder races with the blinkers off.
Miniature Man is a three-year-old who moved from a sprinter to at this time one of the better horses in his age group going a distance of ground. Miniature Man has progressed from dead-heating in the 7 ½ furlong Portmore Stakes to a convincing winner of the 2000 Guineas.
The main attribute of Miniature Man seems to be his progression during a race. He has this ability to move decisively and tellingly in the last three and a half furlongs, much to the discomfort of opponents. Once Miniature Man is close enough to the leader entering the straight, his final rush is going to be difficult to withstand.
THE QUICK GALLOPER has chosen the filly She’s A Wonder as the winner of the St Leger with Miniature Man, Nuclear Noon and Further and Beyond, behind in no set order.
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She s a wonder looks hard to beat, if she step it right,
bold predicition for the ledger DEAD HEAT between any of the top four.should be a good race competition wise.
Oh gosh - another dead heat