IN a dramatic reversal of the form books, Superluminal, trained by Harry Parsard and ridden by Paul Francis, won the ISP Finance Services-sponsored Jamaica St Leger at Caymanas Park yesterday.

Superluminal, who won at odds of 35-1, was engaged in a battling stretch duel with Derby winner Seeking My Dream (Omar Walker up) before prevailing by a length. Southern Cruise was third.

Following the fireworks in the straight, more explosions were to come as immediately after the season’s last Classic event, a stewards’ inquiry was announced followed by a jockey’s objection by Walker, who claimed that Francis had caused interference to him in the straight. The objection was overruled giving Superluminal’s connections their first St Leger winner.

This left a somewhat sour taste in the mouths of punters as the overwhelming majority felt there was interference. And, although not official from the connections of Seeking My Dream, an appeal against the winner seems the most likely outcome.

Trainer Parsard was however undaunted by the happenings in the Steward’s box saying it was an emotional moment for him.

“This is my first time winning the St Leger and I am happy for that. It has been quite a long road for me, but I have been having a great season this year and to win a Classic race is just phenomenal,” Parsard told the Sunday Observer.

Superluminal is owned by PJK Team and was bred by the YS (1955) Ltd.

Francis, who was winning his third St Leger, said that he was not surprised with the victory.

“I know this horse pretty well. I rode him before so I know his running style. He worked very good coming into the race and I knew once we got a clear run in the straight he would be a factor at the end,” Francis said in the winners’ enclosure.

Interestingly, Francis was slated to ride Superluminal in the Derby, but factors led to him riding Merlin instead. Superluminal finished fifth in the 12-furlong Jamaica Derby after running well wide for most of the way.

Superluminal (Natural Selection – Thousand Hill) was held among the back markers behind expected leaders Ali Baba (Robert Halledeen astride), Shining Light (Shamaree Muir up) and Computerize (Andre Martin in the saddle) passing the stands for the first time and into the club-house turn.

As the 11 runners sorted themselves out, Shining Light then picked up lead from Merlin under Rayan Wilson and Ali Baba on the inside of Seeking My Dream , while Superluminal began to round rivals leaving the 1,200-metre pole.

Superluminal then made what turned out to be the decisive move to draw alongside Seeking My Dream at the top of the lane, with Seeking My Dream refusing to give up. The battle for supremacy then developed from a furlong-and-half out, but Francis got the job done.

The winning time for the native-bred three-year-old event was a moderate 2:11:1 minutes behind splits of 25.0, 51.3, 1:16.3, and 1:42.2 minutes.

Superluminal was the second winner for Parsard on the day as he earlier saddled Wings Of Hope (Omar Walker astride) in the fourth race.