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ROYAL IMAGE

Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer

TODAY is Derby Day, the mammoth 14-race programme at Caymanas Park featuring the 88th running of the Digicel Jamaica Derby, sponsored by the telecommunications giant for the fourth consecutive year.

In addition to the Derby, which is run over 2400 metres for a purse of $5 million, the programme, which commences 30 minutes earlier than usual at 11:30 a.m. in order to facilitate the feast of racing, also includes the $1.5-million Digicel Irish Jamaican Stakes (grade one) over 1300 metres featuring a big clash between the 2007 champion sprinter MUSICAL MAESTRO and the reigning Horse of the Year, DISTINCTLY IRISH, who makes his long-awaited seasonal debut.

The Derby field includes top contenders ROYAL IMAGE, who won the April 5 Jamaica Licensed Bookmakers 2000 Guineas over 1600 metres, and the classy filly ALSAFRA, winner of the 1000 Guineas and Bigga Jamaica Oaks over 2000 metres on April 26.

The focus will definitely be on the two superstars, both of whom are in line for triple crown glory.

Notable absentee

A notable absentee from the Derby line-up is the filly IT IS I, winner of the recent Lotto Classic for the Governor's Cup on May 24. Her trainer, Anthony 'Baba' Nunes, disclosed that IT IS I is scheduled to have two minor operations on her stifles.

Nunes will still have two runners in marginal ante-post favourite ROYAL IMAGE with customary jockey Shane Ellis riding for Barbadian owner Elias Haloute and EVANDER, the mount of Jamaican-born Florida-based jockey Leroy Nelson, who will be riding at Caymanas Park for the first time.

As far as the Derby is concerned, I see it as a straight fight between ROYAL IMAGE and ALSAFRA, the latter trained by Fitznahum Williams who controls a small string for horses.

Being an exceptional filly, ALSAFRA, with two-time champion jockey Brian Harding again in the saddle, is back with a grand chance of taking top honours, having shown considerable improvement from the 1000 Guineas to the Oaks.

Runaway win

The chestnut filly by Legal Process out of the 2007 champion broodmare Tee Gee Vee beat IT IS I by only half a length in the April 5 1000 Guineas over 1600 metres, yet came back three weeks later to whip her by all of 8-1/2 lengths in the mile and quarter Oaks, covering the distance in the smart time of 2:07.1.

ALSAFRA's runaway win in the Oaks clearly stamps her as a filly of the highest order. She is bred to stay and the 2.0kg sex allowance from ROYAL IMAGE could well work in her favour.

Having worked exceptionally well in preparation for today's encounter, ALSAFRA will only go down fighting.

"She's in with a great winning chance. She's bred to get the distance and although everybody is saying that ROYAL IMAGE is the horse to beat; if he doesn't have that last five-furlong dash, he'll be in trouble," the filly's trainer Williams warned.

He added: "ALSAFRA pleased me at exercise last Saturday morning, galloping seven furlongs in 1:26.1. She really looked sharp and with Brian Harding knowing her like a book, I expect her to win."

excellent chance

However, as far as Ellis and Nunes are concerned, ALSAFRA will have to go through ROYAL IMAGE.

"I think he has an excellent chance," said Nunes. "He's unbeaten in four races this season, has done everything we have asked him to do and I'm really pleased with his progress coming into the race.

Ellis, who once described ROYAL IMAGE as a "murderer", says he is "extremely confident" of winning.

"True, ALSAFRA is a classy filly, but I have every confidence in my horse. I have the big bad colt, she's the filly.

"He was always going easy in his recent Derby prep and won with a lot in hand. Since then, he has done everything right at exercise and is coming to run them into the ground," said the 2000 champion jockey.

It's the classic matchup: A powerful colt vs an exceptional filly. ROYAL IMAGE with his strong mid-race pace is preferred, but ALSAFRA will only go down fighting.

Others such as MINISTEROFJUSTICE, LEONIDAS under leading all-time classic winning jockey Winston Griffiths, COMMANDER ZERO, who flopped as the favourite in the Lotto Classic and now runs without the blinkers, along with WHEEL N DEAL, as well as the improving MR. BLAIR and JOSIE WALES under five-time champion jockey Trevor Simpson, should ensure that the big two are kept honest.

In the unlikely event that either ROYAL IMAGE or ALSAFRA is beaten by any of the others, the Michael McIntosh-trained MINISTEROFJUSTICE could provide the upset.

Beaten in the Lotto Classic

He finished like the proverbial train under Richie Mitchell to be beaten by half a length in the Lotto Classic and according to his trainer, "I feel I have a better chance going 12 furlongs".

I would also like JET SKI D'OR in the second race, GUIDING LIGHT third, FOREVER MINE fourth, TAKE FIVE 10th, MUSICAL MAESTRO to stave of DISTINCTLY IRISH in the 11th and HOMBRE over MINERVA in the nightpan.