Typewriter Heads St Leger Field

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

Impressive Derby winner, TYPEWRITER, heads a list of 13 entries for the 86th running of the Boom Jamaica St Leger, the season's final classic, to be run over 2000 metres at Caymanas Park on Saturday.

The race, sponsored by the Wisynco Group, offers a total purse of $3.9 million.

Unbeaten in four starts, TYPEWRITER will again be ridden by former champion jockey Shane Ellis, who has partnered him to victory in all his races.

Trained by Spencer Chung, the lightly raced 3-y-o gelding by Western Classic out of Docs' Paladin, is a ready-made favourite on the strength of his 61/2-length victory over ALL CORRECT in the June 9 Derby.

A week or two going into the Derby, TYPEWRITER suffered a setback in his preparation and had to be taken off the exercise track and conditioned at sea.

Looked fluent

However, this did not prevent him from spreadeagling the Derby field on the big day. He looked fluent when returning to the exercise track on Wednesday, June 27, galloping seven furlongs in a brisk 1:29.0. He has since done some pace work and from all indications is even better for this race.

He should follow in the footsteps of another unbeaten colt, COMMANDING CHIEF, who romped the St Leger a year ago.

Completing the list of entries and their probable riders are the Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) winner ALL CORRECT, to be ridden by four-time champion Omar Walker; the 2000 Guineas hero UNCLE DONNY with champion jockey Dick Cardenas again in the saddle; stable companion STAR FLYER (working very well) to be ridden by leading jockey Dane Nelson; the 1000 Guineas heroine SHE'S TRADITIONAL with Ameth Robles slated; AVENTURA, the mount of leading all-time jockey Winston 'Fanna' Griffiths, along with SIRMANDI (Andre Martin), TIMEFORARMS (Richie Mitchell), RAGING PROSPECT (Richard Mairs), OUR CREATION (Paul Francis), FANCY PANTS, AMANDA PANDA and the Oaks runner-up PHILISTIA.

The draw will be conducted live via radio from Caymanas Park this afternoon at 2:00.