T ALENTED Tony K and Relampago, respective winners of the first two legs of the Jamaica Triple crown, will head a small field going into the third leg, the 88th running of the Jamaica

St Leger sponsored by ICWI, at Caymanas Park today.

So distinctly prominent were their performances in the first two legs it would leave one to believe that that has forced away would-be rivals into hiding as they await easier opportunities.

A field of seven was declared to go to post — six of which faced the starter in last month’s Derby run that also include Bold Aviator, Israelite, Black Thorn and Raven Renae. She’s Plummy is well bred for the distance but also shows that she lacks the class of her rivals and may only be able to earn some feed money.

The St Leger, the season’s final Classic, a futurity call for native-bred three-year-olds, is the highlighter and penultimate call of the day’s 11-race card and is scheduled to go to post at approximately 4:40 pm with first post at 12:10 pm.

The Lorne Kirlew-trained Talented Tony K won the Jamaica 2,000 Guineas and then in his Derby Lotto Classic eked out a narrow win. Both victories were over Relampago.

In the Jamaica Derby, it was however Relampago’s time to shed the bridesmaid tag and the Anthony Nunes-conditioned stretch-running enforcer did so with a spanking run over Talented Tony K that immediately set in motion a grand showdown between the two for the Earl of Lonsdale Trophy going 2,000 metres for the major share of the $3,500,000 purse of which the Insurance Company of the West Indies (ICWI) will contribute $500,000.

So dominant were these two warriors going two turns it is difficult to place any of the other five runners between them, as they have worked with great industry for their third renewal. However, with the distance reduced it puts the advantage back in the lap of Talented Tony K, but just narrowly as Relampago has been stepped up at exercise in his preparation as none of their rivals possesses the speed to set up a late run which means that Relampago, who will again be ridden by Shane Ellis, will have to be closer to the pace which could be his undoing.

Former champion jockey Omar Walker, who is riding with reasonable success in Canada, has been recalled to pilot Talented Tony K after big-time jockey Edgar Prado failed to get the job done in the Jamaica Derby.

Despite the pre-eminence of both Talented Tony K and Relampago, reasonably good performances can

be expected from the Fitzroy Glispie part-owned and trained Raven Renae, who stayed on well to finish third in the Jamaica Derby on last. To be ridden again by title-chasing jockey Dick Cardenas, the staying daughter of Seeking The Glory lacks the finishing speed of the top two, but could be heads on with the Patrick Chang-trained Black Thorn, the mount of champion jockey Dane Nelson in the closing stages for third money.

So too will be the Gary Subratie-trained Bold Aviator, who is also expected to give a very good account of himself with regular rider Aaron Chatrie astride.