By Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer 
THE SEASON'S final classic, the $2.5 million Cable & Wireless Mobile Jamaica St. Leger, is on today and barring unforeseen circumstances, the brilliant unbeaten 3-y-o gelding DISTINCTLY IRISH seems destined to become the ninth Triple Crown winner at Caymanas Park.
On June 10, the son of Irish Quest emerged the easiest Derby winner in the 45-year history of Caymanas Park when powering home by the resounding margin of 14-1/2 lengths with customary pilot, leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths aboard.
That marked the gelding's sixth win on the trot and being at least three classes better than his age-group rivals, will have to fall into a huge hole to lose the St. Leger, run over 2000 metres.
With Griffiths riding for many-time champion trainer Philip Feanny and popular owner Howard Hamilton once again, DISTINCTLY IRISH is pitted against five opponents, all of whom he beat out of sight in the Derby.
History denied his mother (or dam) DISTINCTLY NATIVE (1990) and half brother A KING IS BORN (2003) from Triple Crown glory at the final hurdle.
DISTINCTLY NATIVE was beaten by the grey KHADULLAH in a stirring last furlong duel. And last year the 1-5 favourite A KING IS BORN was caught close home by stable-companion HERECOMESFUDIE after looking all over the winner a furlong out.
Griffiths was aboard both horses then, but no similar fate awaits the five-time champion jockey today as DISTINCTLY IRISH is an exceptional horse.
In the Derby, he assumed the lead from bold front runner RUN PAPA RUN at the half mile and quickly streaked away. It should be much of the same today.
The battle is definitely on for second among the trio of RUN PAPA RUN, LOCHNESS DRAGON and the Feanny-trained STEROFABULOUS who was second at long odds in the Derby.
This time around, I am expecting the Dennis Lee-trained RUN PAPA RUN to chase home DISTINCTLY IRISH, despite fading into sixth place in the Derby. He was still lying second at the final bend and only lost his positionapproaching the distance. Given the shorter distance, RUN PAPA RUN should be good enough to beat the Derby third for second.
Victory should give Hamilton a well-deserved first Triple Crown, following his near miss with A KING IS BORN last year.
A more competitive race on the programme is the 3-y-o and up Graded Stakes for the Viceroy Trophy to be contested by seven starters, including the island's top stayer ROYAL RUN (Charles Hussey), one-time 'Horse of the Year' I'MSATISFIED, last year's St. Leger winner HERECOMESFUDGIE, the recent Zaleucus Trophy winner METEOR MAN and lightly weighted THE MINISTER.
WINNER
The winner is almost sure to emerge from this group, but judging from the manner in which ROYAL RUN carried himself in the fast-run Chairman's Trophy race over 1500 metres on June 12 when finishing 1-1/2 lengths second to the front running American filly INTERNET COMMANDER, he should prove too strong for rivals over the longer distance, despite topweight of 57.0kg. Other firm fancies on the 12-race programme are THE SANDMAN (aimed too low), JERICHO (knocking at the door) in the second race, recent fast-time winner JACK DE PRINCE (going places) in the sixth, BATTLEOX (better than the rest) to repeat in the seventh, SUNSET LADY (little to fear from rivals) in the 10th and RAJMIR (went close last time) over CONSCIOUS APPROACH and UNWANTED in the closing circular nine race for $140,000 claimers.
