Atomica, the 1000 Guineas winner, and Blue Vinyl, the 2000 Guineas hero, will lock horns in what could turn out to be a truly classical showdown in the 96th running of the $4.5-million Jamaica St Leger, sponsored by BetMakers Technology Group, at Caymanas Park today.

Without a doubt, both Atomica, from the barn of Gary Subtarie, and the Patrick Lynch-conditioned Blue Vinyl, are presently the leading native-bred three-year-olds. Both will be meeting for the first time.

Based on current form and past performances, a battle of titanic proportions is very much expected as Atomica and Blue Vinyl look all set to continue the journey towards Triple Crown glory.

The brilliant filly Atomica is unbeaten in five career starts. She has conquered all other fillies in winning the 1000 Guineas on June 4 over one mile by 20 lengths in a new Stakes record time of 1:37.0. She has been working well coming into this race and will definitely get the distance of the St Leger. Atomica will more than likely set the fractions and thereafter it will be up to the rest to challenge.

Blue Vinyl has made significant improvement in recent months. His victory in the 2000 Guineas on June 5 gave evidence of his class and also his ability to effectively get a distance of ground. Following his win in the 2000 Guineas, Blue Vinyl has trained well and is ready to go.

The race is very much limited to these two powerhouses as the other runners in the line-up don’t have the class or talent to test them at present.

The Jamaica St Leger, a native-bred three-year-old Futurity event, is the second jewel in the Triple Crown series of races and will run over 10 furlongs (2,000m). The race is positioned as the 10th and final event on the card with post time of 5:10 pm. First race is at 11:45 am.

Bred by Nuclear Wayne out of the Reparations mare Hokeytonkville, Atomica is without a doubt the most accomplished three-year-old runner in training at present with four of her five victories coming this season. Apart from her 1000 Guineas triumph, the chestnut filly was also impressive in winning the Thornbird Stakes on April 2 and The Portmore on May 7, both races being major prep events leading up to the Classics.

Atomica won the seven-furlong (1,400m) Thornbird Stakes by six lengths in a time of 1:27.0, beating champion two-year-old Golden Wattle before landing The Portmore (seven-and-a-half furlongs/1,500m) on May 7 by 11 lengths in a new Stakes record time of 1:32.3, beating Our Angel. Atomica is a filly of superb class and will be hard to deny. Leading rider Dane Dawkins remains in the saddle.

Blue Vinyl is an exceptional horse and it is going be interesting to see how he goes among the true and tested warrior in Atomica. Blue Vinyl’s journey to Classic triumph was not as easy as his main rival’s. He placed fourth in the Sir Howard Stakes over six furlongs (1,200m) behind Tekapunt on March 13; just lost by a short head to Emperorofthecats in the Prince Consort Stakes over seven furlongs on April 3; and finished third in a non-winners of two race on April 23 over six furlongs behind Luksol and Nomoredeals.

Then the turnaround of form happened for Blue Vinyl when the bay gelding slammed rivals by 2 ¾ lengths in The Kingston over seven furlongs, beating Perfect Brew in the process in a time of 1:32.4, just one-fifth of a second slower than the time done by Atomica in The Portmore. However, his second consecutive win was more impressive when he won the 2000 Guineas (one mile/1,600m) by 11 lengths in a time of 1:37.4, four-fifths of a second slower than the time done by Atomica in the fillies’ section.

Jockey Raddesh Roman, who will be on board Blue Vinyl, cannot allow the expected leader and main rival Atomica to be too far in front, so expect Blue Vinyl to race in mid-pack, gradually gaining momentum and placing positions down the backstretch. Only time will tell how quickly Blue Vinyl accelerates in the final two furlongs without enough evidence to suggest that he will be at his best in the lane.

The minor placings in the Jamaica Leger Classic should be decided among the likes of Brinks, Sunset Silhoutte, Berning Red, Emperorofthecats, Outbidder and Morimoto.

Brinks, trained by Ian Parsard, ran a very brave race to finish second behind Blue Vinyl in the 2000 Guineas. Brinks, then with the cheek pieces on, took control of the event from the six-furlong point and was simply outdone by the better horse, losing by 11 lengths.

After finishing fourth in the 1000 Guineas won by Atomica on June 4, the Jason DaCosta-trained Sunset Silhoutte returned on June 19 to win the Mr Lover Lover Trophy over nine-plus (1,820m). Sunset Silhoutte should be fighting for one of the minor placings and nothing else.

Berning Red, also trained by Parsard, defeated Emperorofthecats by a length over seven furlongs on June 19 in his prep race coming into the St Leger. Based on that run, Berning Red should be more than comfortable at 10 furlongs and could cause anxious moments for the top two, if that is at all possible.

Outbidder, this well-bred and costly filly, trained by DaCotsa, has not lived up to expectations, and is a surprise entry in this Classic event. Outbidder will have to run way beyond her previous efforts to even have a chance of hitting the board, but with little among this group of second-string runners, can be in the running for a share of the cake.

Morimoto came into the 2000 Guineas with high hopes but finished in fourth place. Trained by Anthony Nunes, Morimoto’s best hope in the St Leger is a placing position, for which he has to fight hard.

Ones to watch:

Race 1) JJThestriker/Great Britt/Big

Argument

Race 2) Mr Lyndhurst/Buckaluck/Miss

Linda Wray

Race 3) Mine That Cat/Positive ID/

Heavenly Glitter

Race 4) Noble Impulse/Awesome Prince/

Storm A Come

Race 5) Father Riel/Rockdale/Lady Budget

Race 6) Lightning McQueen//KD Rocket/

Will The Conquerer

Race 7) Lure of Lucy/Sparkle Diamond/

Awesome Treasure

Race 8) Our Angel/Silent Mission/Pelicula

Race 9) Further and Beyond/Mahogany/

Calculus

Race 10) Atomica/Blue Vinyl/Morimoto