By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer 
TRIPLE CROWN FOILED: The Philip Feanny-trained HERECOMESFUDGIE (left), ridden by Florida-based Allen Maragh, outbattles stable companion A KING IS BORN (Winston Griffiths) to win the Cable & Wireless (Mobile) Jamaica St. Leger over 2000 metres, by a neck, at Caymanas Park yesterday. - Michael Sloley/Freelance Photographer
HERECOMESFUDGIE, RUNNING at odds of 10-1 with Florida-based Jamaican-born jockey Allen Maragh aboard, denied stable companion A KING IS BORN Triple Crown glory at Caymanas Park yesterday in winning the season's final classic, the $2.5 million Cable & Wireless (Mobile) Jamaica St. Leger over 2000 metres in a driving finish.
Winner of the May 17 Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) over the distance, HERECOMESFUDGIE who came back to finish 9 1/2 lengths fourth to A KING IS BORN in the June 14 Red Stripe Derby, stormed through from off the pace over the final 200 metres to catch and beat the howling 1-5 favourite A KING IS BORN under leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths in a field of six native bred three-year-olds.
Both are trained by 13-time champion Philip Feanny who posted an unprecedented 37th classic winner and his third of the season.
A KING IS BORN thus joined the graveyard of Triple Crown hopefuls who failed to accomplish the feat after winning the Guineas and Derby in recent years - MR. LOVER LOVER (1997), TERREMOTO (1998) and AWESOME POWER (2001). And all were beaten by horses they had behind them in the Derby.
Yesterday, A KING IS BORN chased early leader PITTACUS (7-2) with champion jockey Trevor Simpson aboard passing the stands for the first time.
They were closely followed by rank outsider ZAHBO (65-1), Derby runner-up REAR ADMIRAL (9-5), JOHNNY'S KING (58-1) with HERECOMESFUDGIE bringing up the rear.
A KING IS BORN assumed the lead from PITTACUS approaching the halfway stage and opened up a three-length gap passing the half mile, at which stage HERECOMESFUDGIE was last but one, but wisely ridden to save ground along the inside rails.
A KING IS BORN turned for home four lengths clear of PITTACUS but, although looking to have the race at his mercy early in the straight, appeared to lose his rhythm just inside the last furlong and HERECOMESFUDGIE, who turned for home some six lengths off the pace in third, moved in for the kill.
Responding positively to the whip, "FUDGIE" caught up with "THE KING" in the last 100 metres and in a desperate surge to the wire gained the ascendancy in deep stretch for a thrilling victory.
Owned and bred by Joseph "Fudgie" Duany, who in 2000 teamed up with Griffiths and Feanny to win the Triple Crown with current 'Horse of the Year' I'MSATISFIED, HERECOMESFUDGIE is a bay gelding by Law Of The Sea out of the Medic mare Hya. It was the gelding's third win from only six career starts.
In a post-race interview, Feanny said HERECOMESFUDGIE had "an excellent chance" despite the presence of A KING IS BORN.
"Because of the shorter distance this was going to be a differently run race from the Derby, a race in which the pace would be that much faster. HERECOMESFUDGIE was able to run from off the pace on this occasion and it made a difference".
Yesterday's results: 2B
Jockey Maragh, who is popularly called 'Bungo John', came in from his base at Calder Park in Miami specifically to ride 'FUDGIE' and made no mistake. He said: "I was able to relax him from early in the race and in the end he just exploded".
