Perfect Neighbour heads St Leger field
DERBY winner Perfect Neighbour looks certain to headline a very strong field of winners earmarked for the 87th running of the Boom Jamaica St Leger, the final leg of the Triple Crown series set for July 6 at Caymanas Park.
Caymanas Track Limited’s racing secretary, Denzil Miller, Jnr made the observation while outlining details at a press conference at the Trainers’ Room at Caymanas Park yesterday. The Grade One event will be sponsored by Wisynco for the third year in succession.
Mont Care was the first winner of the Jamaica St Leger back in 1924, with Typewriter being the last in 2012.
For its third staging, Wisynco has upped the sponsorship figure of the event to $2,000,000 from $1.75 million last year. The $2,000,000 contribution will go directly towards the purse of $3.6 million.
Boom Energy Drink co-ordinator Keteisha McCulloch, who made the announcement, was upbeat about her company’s continued increased sponsorship. “We find the Boom Energy Drink to be a popular pasttime with racing fans and also with the wider sporting public. The company in showing its appreciation for the wide exposure that horseracing has given the product though it’s only natural to give a little more as thoroughbred racing is truly a great medium through which to promote a product.”
Paying tribute to the collaborative effort of sponsors and that of dedicated horsemen to keep interest in the sport at a high level, CTL CEO Cedric Stewart had this to say: “This prestigious event has long been regarded as the third jewel of the Triple Crown and has resulted from more than eight decades of collaborative effort between our most dedicated and consistent horsemen. They, along with Wisynco, have raised the bar and have established an enviable tradition of excellence for this event.”
“Today’s media launch,” he continued, “marks another important endorsement of the sponsor’s confidence in the power and reach of thoroughbred racing as an advertising vehicle to reach their customers…”
The promoter has offered 10 races on the day.
Miller outlined that the feature attraction on the day will showcase the country’s top native-bred three-year-olds seeking top honours in the final Classic for the 2013 season. Among them will be the Wayne DaCosta-trained derby hero Perfect Neighbour; Patrick Chang’s 2000 Guineas winner Willie Goldsmith; Anthony Nunes’ 1000 Guineas winner Selectabook; owner/trainer Owen Sharpe’s Governor’s Cup winner Uncle Taf, and the Jamaica Oaks heroine Lady Abhijita.
Others expected to face the starter are Royal Vibes, third in the Jamaica Derby; Bigman In Town, fourth in the Jamaica Derby; Rum Punch, sixth in the Jamaica Derby; Hover Craft, seventh in the Jamaica Derby; Firelight, ninth in the Jamaica Derby, and Sir Frederick and Princess Sassy.