Cliff Williams, ContributorTHE FIFTH and final Classic of the 2005 Racing Year, the Jamaica St. Leger, will take place today with the debate over the divestment sharing the spotlight and even threatening to take centrestage.
This particular type of
circumstance has been the case perennially over the last three decades as there is always some issue to do with the personalities of the stakeholders, or some virtual crisis sharing the headlines with the equine stars whenever the important racedays come around.
With the Government committed to the passing of the operations of the Caymanas racing plant into private hands, the Vin Edwards-led Jamaica Racehorse Trainers Association is adamant that as one of the primary stakeholders, nothing of the sort should take place before an understanding is reached as to what the future will hold under the new dispensation.
FEAR
One is not sure what
particular fear, real or imagined, the executive of this association of professionals holds with respect to new investors coming in. But, the members seem
sufficiently insecure to be
calling on the Government to delay any possible decision about divestment for at least another six months, in order to allow for more time so that any concern in the minds
of these trainers can be addressed to their satisfaction.
In the meantime, Horsemen Limited, one of two bidders for the lease of the racing plant, has made its case
public as it seeks support for its proposal.
One gets the impression that this organisation is in a
position to know more than the basic contents of the opposing bid. In their advertising, they seem to be addressing issues relating to foreign ownership and highlighting areas where they feel their bid is superior.
NO 'GAG ORDER' IN FORCE
There has been no response to this ploy of Horsemen Limited by Caymanas Entertainment the opposing bidder and one wonders why there seems to be no 'gag order' in force.
Word is out that in terms of meeting the criteria established for a successful bid, the photo-finish apparatus will be required to determine a winner, as in the collective mind of the evaluation
committee, there is absolutely nothing between the two in this second round of bidding.
Therefore, the State Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Fitz Jackson, in
stating at the Jamaica Racing Commission Hall of Fame dinner and awards ceremony a few weeks ago that "any number can play", must be creating havoc with the nerves of the potential investors.
It would seem to me that whatever the outcome of the divestment process, the failed bidder and supporters will be bitterly disappointed.
SPECTACLE TO SAVOUR
Turning now to today's 2000-metre St. Leger event, it should provide another spectacle to savour as the three principal finishers in the 2400-metre Jamaica Derby meet on identical terms over this shorter distance.
The fact of the matter is that Derby winner Miracle Man did not win with the expected authority although he is
clearly possessed of more
stamina than Ad Infinitum
and Royal Command, the
first and second runners-up
respectively.
In the Derby, when they came to the last 200 metres, the trio was virtually heads apart until the superior
stamina of Miracle Man won the day.
Truth be told, in the
Derby Ad Infinitum had all,
including the winner, who had to be scrubbed along at this stage and for the remainder of the race, in trouble with 350 metres run.
Brian Harding had Ad Infinitum travelling strongly on the bridle and one
wonders if the jockey had sent him clear if the result may not have been different.
RAN SLUGGISHLY
In a post-race interview, Allen Maragh, rider of winner Miracle Man, did admit that the horse ran rather sluggishly from the 800-metre mark to the top of the stretch, causing him some concern.
Ad Infinitum is definitely the one that showed most improvement in the time between the 2000 Guineas and the Derby and if this improvement continues, then one has to think that he has excellent prospects of turning the table on his more accomplished rival this time.
If this turns out to be the case, then it would not be all that surprising, but the vote must go to Miracle Man, who still has tremendous scope for further improvement himself.
Royal Command is almost certain to perform creditably once again to ensure that the two principals do not have it all to themselves.
