Local horse racing championship-chasing trainer Anthony Nunes, winner of the final leg of the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Triple Series with his Sotomayor last year, is confirming that his present contender for the top juvenile race, Patriarch , is making steady progress in his preparation to feature in all three sections this year.

The final leg of the Supreme Ventures Triple Series will be contested over a distance of eight furlongs (1,600 metres) on Boxing Day (December 26).

Patriarch, a bay colt by Casual Trick out of the Royal Minister mare Electrifying, is not really bred to get a distance of ground, but Nunes stated that contingency training plans will be put in place to gradually increase the distances travelled by his colt to get him to a mile by Boxing Day for his premier clash with the best local-bred two-year-olds in training.

After winning the first leg of the Triple Series, Patriarch returned to the track to win the second leg with a well-organised display. With the final leg nigh at hand, the Supreme Racing Guide caught up with trainer Nunes two race days ago and asked how Patriarch was progressing:

“He is fine so far, He has another work to complete before Boxing Day. The most I can say up to this point is that he is on stream with his preparation.

“He has not shown anything untoward during his morning exercise for me to be worried about, so that is a heartening sign. He showed on last (in the second leg of the Supreme Ventures Triple Series) when the field was closing in on him, and without much fanfare he moved away to win the event quite comfortably. So, should he enter this race with the same aptitude and temperament, then he should be alright,” Nunes said.

Patriarch’s chances of emerging with the juvenile Triple Crown has been enhanced by the non-appearance of Another Vigorous rated as one of the better youngsters around. Another Vigorous is out due to an injury.