Owner and trainer Dennis Lee vividly remembers the day when his charge Run Papa Run created an upset in the running of the 2004 Jamaica St Leger at Caymanas Park.

Run Papa Run, under Trevor Simpson on the outside and Distinctly Irish, the mount of Winston Griffiths, on the inside were locked in a duel from the half-mile, but it was Run Papa Run who prevailed in what was described as one of the most exciting St Leger races ever. The winning time of the 2,000-metre event was 2:08:3 minutes.

The upset victory by Run Papa Run denied Distinctly Irish the glory of winning the Triple Crown.

Lee said that he was very happy with the victory.

“The feeling at that time was really great. I was extremely happy that day as it was a very good win by Run Papa Run. We beat the biggest favourite ever and won the St Leger.

“ Distinctly Irish was the biggest favourite going into the last race of the Triple Crown and we defeated him in the St Leger, so the feeling must be great. Words alone could not describe what I was feeling,” Lee said with a smile on his face.

Lee then informed that training coming into the St Leger was as normal as usual for Run Papa Run.

“Nothing really changed for his preparation coming into the St Leger.

“Training was just as normal as training for any other race. You don’t want to change things as that might cause some issues or anything like that,” he explained.

Based on Run Papa Run’s performances in both the Governor’s Cup and Jamaica Derby, Lee said that he strongly believed in his charge’s ability to win the St Leger.

“We won the Lotto Classic for the Governor’s Cup, which was over 10 furlongs, and in the Jamaica Derby, which was 12 furlongs, we led up to the last two furlongs, meaning Run Papa Run led the Derby for 10 furlongs, and so coming into the St Leger (10 furlongs), I knew we had a shot at winning.

“With the journey right up our sleeves, we were in the mix of victory despite the presence of Distinctly Irish,” Lee told the Complete Racing Guide.