The 2024 Futurities got underway with the 1,200-metre Hotline Stakes for fillies on March 23.

Inside the last 200 metres, Banadura, trained by Jason DaCosta and ridden by Robert Halledeen, wore down front-running Cryptogirl to score in workmanlike fashion with
Comehometome’s late one-paced effort only good enough for third.

Over 1,400 metres on April 13, Banadura confirmed her class in Thornbird Stakes. She led and ran well under pressure to beat Comehometome with Run Julie Run, running as though something was amiss, finishing a tame third.

This result was a harbinger of the impact these races were to have on the outcome of the Classics restricted to fillies.

Obviously, reporting in her best form here, best 2023 juvenile filly Run Julie Run, saddled by Ian Parsard with Reyan Lewis up, controlled the pace over the 1,500 metres of The Portmore, run on May 4. Run Julie Run did appear vastly superior to the other fillies in a very convincing effort.

However, it was inexplicably the turn of Banadura to run way below her best as she retreated quickly from 800 metres out.

In the 1,600-metre Jamaica 1000 Guineas, Run Julie Run confirmed her superior status over her peers, but interestingly, Banadura ran well enough to be a competitive third.

The decision of the connections of Run Julie Run to declare her for the 2,400-metre Jamaica Derby on August 6 in preference to the 2,000-metre Jamaica Oaks for fillies three days earlier, gave the opportunity to Banadura to win this Classic.

The distance of the Oaks (10 furlongs) posed no problems for Banadura (Robert Halledeen) and she scored in frontrunning style.

For the colts, their Futurities calendar got underway on March 24 and running on strongly in the final stages of the 1,200-metre Sir Howard Stakes, Allegiance, schooled by Anthony Nunes and partnered by Reyan Lewis, prevailed narrowly.

However, this was a line-up of starters without the prospect of making any impression over the longer distances to come.

The Classic trials continued on April 14 and the DaCosta-conditioned 2023 Juvenile champion Interestntimesahead made his seasonal debut.

Adding the 1,400-metre Prince Consort on April 14 and The Kingston, run at 1,500 metres on May 5, were achieved in a classy display of speed and stamina.

Interestntimesahead impressed with Tevin Foster, the regular reinsman atop this free-scoring colt.

Although underperforming in his preparation exercise gallops, Intrestntimesahead was the 1-5 odds-on favourite for the run in the 2000 Guineas at 1,600 metres.

Stablemate California Crown, ridden by Halledeen led, and pursued by Intrestntimesahead from 800 metres out, held the lead safely to score by one and a half lengths. In addition, DaCosta also saddled third-placed Provident in a rare training feat.

The July 6 2,000-metre St Leger saw a convincing return to winning ways by
Intrestntimesahead in outstaying 2000 Guineas third Crown Chaser by three lengths.

Foster had no need to intervene in thwarting an unrealistic threat inside the last 200 metres. Still Crown Chaser stayed on in a manner to suggest he would relish the longer trip of the Derby.

With the 104th Jamaica Derby staged on August 6, having Classic winners Run Julie Run (1000 Guineas), California Crown (2000 Guineas) and Intrestntimesahead (St Leger), all with their familiar jockeys in the line-up, the stage was set for an intriguing contest over the 2,400 metres.

Additionally, Captain Sparrow, fourth in the Prince Consort, second in The Kingston and fifth in the 2000 Guineas was an improving sort of colt.

It was a courageous Derby effort from in front by Run Julie Run, but in the final analysis, in terms of judgement of pace and decision making, it was a tactical masterclass by jockey Shane Ellis aboard Anthony Nunes’ Crown Chaser.

Electing to challenge on the far rails Crown Chaser eventually led 50 metres out to win by a half a length with Captain Sparrow a neck away in third well clear of Intrestntimesahead who failed to stay on and was almost 15 lengths further behind in fourth.