By Orville Clarke,Freelance Writer
I'msatisfied set to complete Triple Crown.
I'MSATISFIED is tipped to become the seventh Triple Crown winner at Caymanas Park today when he takes on seven opponents in the season's final classic, the 72nd running of the (National) Jamaica St. Leger for native bred three-year-olds over 2000 metres.
To be ridden by leading all-time jockey Winston Griffiths for many-time champion trainer Philip Feanny, the quintessential classic winning team, I'MSATISFIED has already won the Track Price Plus 2000 Guineas and the Red Stripe Jamaica Derby by narrow margins to be on course for his place in history.
Victory today would enable him to join ROYAL DAD (1981), MONDAY MORNING (1987), LIU CHIE POO (1988), THE VICEROY (1989), MILLIGRAM (1992) and WAR ZONE (1996) as Triple Crown winners at Caymanas Park.
Today's lineup has attracted all the classic winners so far this season. In addition to I'MSATISFIED there are the Courts Jamaica Oaks heroine AERO STAR and Track Price Plus 1000 Guineas winner RAY OF HOPE.
Also present is the Derby runner-up GENERAL VERRAZANO, the 2000 Guineas runner-up and Derby third past-the-post RESTLESS WARRIOR along with HALLELUJAH, who passed the post fourth in the Derby (awarded third).
With the principals having pleased in their preparation, I believe the race will come down to a three-cornered tussle involving I'MSATISFIED, RESTLESS WARRIOR and the filly AERO STAR.
The vastly improved GENERAL VERRAZANO, RAY OF HOPE and HALLELUJAH should give good account of themselves, yet I see the winner coming from the first group.
Different riding tactics could work wonders for RESTLESS WARRIOR now that trainer Wayne DaCosta has secured the services of champion jockey Andrew Ramgeet, who booted home the DaCosta-trained filly GOOD PROSPECT to win the race last year.
RESTLESS WARRIOR lost the 2000 Guineas by a short head to I'MSATISFIED and the Derby by two necks to his old rival after shooting clear early in the last furlong.
In both instances he swerved about under the whip in midstretch and this contributed largely to his defeat. It was the same old story when he was beaten into third place by AERO STAR in the Lotto Classic for the Governor's Cup on May 20.
If Ramgeet can correct him in the drive, succeeding where jockeys Simon Husbands and Roger Moore failed, then RESTLESS WARRIOR (working exceptionally well) will not go down easily.
The same is almost true of the Percy Hussey-trained AERO STAR, providing she reports 100 percent healthy. According to her trainer, the talented filly by Dixie Dancer out of For My Jet was thwarted by a recurring suspensory leg problem in the Derby and after leading for the first mile, faded rapidly from the final bend to finish ninth. But indications are all is now right with this talented filly and she should not for an instance be taken lightly, having won twice over the St. Leger distance in the past two months.
Still, despite the sound claims of AERO STAR and RESTLESS WARRIOR, I think I'MSATISFIED will deliver again, and for good reasons.
True, he only does enough to win, as. his narrow wins in the Guineas and Derby have shown. But none relishes a fight more than the Joseph Duany-owned dark bay gelding by The Medic out of Midnight Angel. And therein lies the key to his success. He refuses to lose.
History is also on the side of I'MSATISFIED, as only three horses in recent memory have failed to win the third and final leg while on course - HELLO POOCHIE LIU (1983), THORNBIRD (1984) and DISTINCTLY NATIVE (1990), all fillies, while six others (all colts) have obliged.
Given the profound classic winning capacity of the Feanny/Griffiths team, I'MSATISFIED is expected to give each their fourth Triple Crown winner (three together). But I expect it to be close as RESTLESS WARRIOR, in particular, will be gunning for revenge.
Other firm fancies on the 11-race programme, sponsored by new St. leger sponsors National Fuels and Lubricants Limited, are top two-year-old AWESOME MINISTER to make it three straight in the third race for the Terremoto Trophy, speedy GO BABY GO to stave off old rival THE BARBARIAN in the West Indian Thoroughbred Association 3-Y-O Sprint Trophy, last year's Superstakes winner MENUDO over ALEXDIMASTER in the Viceroy Trophy over 1800 metres for top class horses, SILVER STREAK in the 4th, CANTERBURY in the 8th and recent winner TAZMAN to catch KYLE'S DANCER once again in the nightcap.
