Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

Left: Distinctly Irish - Ian Allen /Staff Photographer.   Right: Miracle Man - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

The 2005 'Horse of the Year' MIRACLE MAN, hunting his eighth consecutive win this season, takes on the 2004 champion DISTINCTLY IRISH in today's $1.1 million Governor-General's Stakes over 2000 metres in a big clash at Caymamas Park.

Sponsored by Hi-Pro Ace, the G-G Stakes has attracted only five starters and in addition to the big two, there is the recent upset winner PITTACUS who humbled hot favourite DISTINCTLY IRISH at level weights in an open allowance race over 1600 metres on September 27.

Significantly, all three have won the Red Stripe Superstakes over today's distance - PITTACUS (2003), DISTINCTLY IRISH (2004) and MIRACLE MAN (2005).

Favourite

Top weight MIRACLE MAN (60.5kg) is expected to start favourite in a bid for his ninth consecutive win and although facing a stern test, to give a horse as classy as DISTINCTLY IRISH all of 11.5kg can prove equal to the task with his now customary pilot, champion jockey Brian Harding, riding for 'Hall of Fame' trainer Allan 'Billy' Williams.

Significantly, MIRACLE MAN has not lost a race since October 26 last year. The last time he met DISTINCTLY IRISH in the November 12 Superstakes he beat the then favourite by 5-3/4 lengths to establish himself as the new superstar in racing. He has not tasted defeat since.

MIRACLE MAN is genuine and versatile as they come, having beaten the best sprinters in the Eileen Cliggott Trophy over 1300 metres on August 26 and also the best of them over a distance of ground.

The only horse of note he is yet to beat this season is DISTINCTLY IRISH whom he meets for the first time since last year's Superstakes. Back then the Philip Feanny-trained DISTINCTLY IRISH was the top rated distance horse in the country. But during his absence on a 10-month hiatus, MIRACLE MAN ruled the roost.

Clash

Both have worked exceptionally well for this long-awaited clash, and while DISTINCTLY IRISH looks tempting at the weights, toting a mere 49.0kg under ace lightweight jockey Wesley Henry, MIRACLE MAN has looked so awesome in victory that it will take a really smart performance from the IRISH to deny the massive four-year-old colt by Law Of The Sea out of Hya.

This being Hi-Pro Ace Supercentre Raceday, the holiday programme also features the $565.000 Ace Supercentre Trophy race over 1300 metres for maiden two-year-olds. This should resolve itself into a straight fight between the well forward debutante FULL SPECTRUM from the Richard Azan stables and MY TRAIN, who failed by a head to catch SMOOTH DUDE in the recent Lester Saunders Memorial Trophy over 1400 metres. My TRAIN is preferred.

Other firm fancies on the card are POWER CRACKER in the 2nd race, YOUNG FOR ALL in the 4th, SIR MOHANDAS BABA in the 6th, QUERIDA in the 7th and MOST WANTED in the 8th for the Norman Manley Memorial Cup.