The ISP Finance Services-sponsored Jamaica St Leger 2016 is heading towards a most intriguing contest.

After the confusion of the Derby on June 25, when first past the post Future King was disqualified along with the second-placed Bigdaddykool and the race awarded to Orpheus, racing fans have expressed widely opposing views, with some defending the ruling of the stewards and others challenging the decision to disqualify.

An appeal has been lodged by the connections of Future King against the verdict of the stewards to disqualify their horse from first place. The hearing of that appeal by the commissioners of the Jamaica Racing Commission started yesterday.

Whatever the final outcome of the appeal may be, there is no doubt that the contest to determine the best three-year-old in the land is well and truly on.

Future King established himself early in the season when he won the 2,000 Guineas (8 furlongs), leaving both Orpheus and Bigdaddykool in his wake.

Bigdaddykool then took the ascendency at the Anthony Nunes barn over Orpheus when he won the Lotto Classic (10 furlongs) in a dogged and determined performance.Future King, trained by Wayne DaCosta, did not run in the Lotto Classic.

Then came the big one – the Cal’s Jamaica Derby – when the win by Future King was disallowed, thus complicating matters.

Based on the official results of the big three-year-old races to date, there is a Classic win for Future King, one for Orpheus, and although the Lotto Classic is not among the established Classic races, it is sufficiently important to listBigdaddykool among the top of his crop.

The significance of the ISP-sponsored St Leger is therefore self-evident as it is the only remaining Classic race confined to the three-year-olds left on the racing calendar. After the St Leger, the best among the lot of three-year-olds will have to race against the older horses in races such as the Superstakes and the Diamond Mile.

The winner of the ISP-sponsored St Leger will therefore carry the bragging rights.