By V. Lloyd Simpson, ContributorFOR ALL excepting the Philip Feanny-trained titan, A King is Born, the Classic series is locked into a topsy-turvy mode. All have blotted their copybooks from as far back as the running of the two final preps - the Thornbird and Prince Consort Stakes.
Looking at the fillies, the Percy Hussey-trained Aero Commander finished a miserable five lengths behind the Paul Fung-trained Naughty by Nature. Crossing swords again in the 1000 Guiness, Aero Commander atoned by winning the event, finishing ahead of all and sundry by six lengths from One One Nine, 9 1/2 from Rising Star in third spot, and 10 1/2 lengths from ?? who finished fourth.
Aero Commander, having created a frame of over ten lengths in the process, was quite justifiable seen as a lulu for the pending Courts Jamaica Oaks of Saturday last.
Following the topsy-turvy made of the series so far, however, Aero Commander was forced to stay at home because of an injury sustained during exercise spins and took no part in the Oaks.
RIDDEN BY HALL-OF-FAMER
Consequently, the humiliated Naughty By Nature resurfaced to be sent off at the flattering odds of 4-5 and, ridden by hall-of-famer Winston Griffiths, duly obliged.
She won from her chief nemesis One One Nine - a Wayne DaCosta standard-bearer ridden by stable-jockey Trevor Simpson at the equally flattering odds of 6-5. One One Nine, going off at 3-2, was one length adrift of Naughty By Nature, with the 99-1 outsider Queen of Diamonds finishing unexpectedly in third place and She's Ranking in fourth.
The distance of the Oaks is 2000 metres and it said a lot of for the potential of Naughty By Nature that she not only stayed the trip but also returned a respectable 2.11.4.
As a result of the outcome of the Oaks, with Naughty By Nature staying on, the fact that a gender allowance will be coming into the mix, that the stamina of A King Is Born as it relates to 2400 metres may be questionable, that Aero Commander is likely to be fighting fit by June and that there is the out-and-stayer Rear Admiral to be taken into account, fans have begun to ask what is likely to be the outcome of the most prestigious of the classic series - the Red Stripe Jamaica Derby.
RUN WITH A VENGEANCE
Banjuhar, owned and trained by Richard Azan who won the Derby with Dorval in 1995, is also said to be coming to run with a vengeance in the Derby. He returned a fast finishing third to A King Is Born in the 2000 Guiness and will be more effective over the longer distances of the Governor's Cup and the Derby.
The Governor's Cup, under three weeks time, will tell us more.
Had the reputable filly, the Percy Hussey-trained Quiet Giant, not been sidelined by a nagging physical incapacity, she might have been capable of mounting a procession behind her. She is definitely out of the classic series, however, and will not be put into competition before the prestigious super stakes - and not even in the WITRA.
The wily and considerably experienced Philip Feanny is of the view that although there could be a question sign hanging over the stamina potential of A King Is Born to get 2400 metres, his class as well as his consistency could very well prevail in the end.
I agree. Seven victories from eight starts is no easily attained accomplishment. The ability to stay over 2400 metres is still a significant factor of the mix, however, and all conjectures aside, I am inclined at the moment to settle on Rear Admiral.
He was running on menacingly behind the King in the 2000 Guiness.
