The Jamaica Star :: Sport :: Harding, Alsafra land Triple Crown

ALSAFRA (Brian Harding up) powering to victory in the RJR Communications Group Jamaica St Leger at Caymanas Park on Saturday to complete the Triple Crown in local racing. The filly is owned jointly by Sherman Clachar and Norman Gordon. - Colin Hamilton photos

PORTMORE, CMC

Ace Trinidad & Tobago jockey Brian Harding capped a memorable day in the saddle, when he clinched the Jamaica Triple Crown on Saturday with the highly favoured Alsafra.

Harding, a former Jamaican champion jockey, rode ALSAFRA to a comfortable three-length victory in the Ja$3,000,000 St Leger Classic at Caymanas Park.

ALSAFRA covered the 10-furlong trip in two minutes, 09.2 seconds to take the last event of the Triple Crown series and the season's final Classic, following victories in the Fillies Guineas and the Jamaica Derby.

Harding rode ALSAFRA in the two previous Classic wins and he has never lost aboard her.

The three-year-old, chestnut filly is trained by Fitznahum Williams for co-owners Sherman Clachar and Norman Gordon.

Under former champion

She again outclassed ROYAL IMAGE, under former champion jockey Shane Ellis, and JOSIE WALES with champion jockey Omar Walker aboard, as she did on June 14 to win the Derby.

ROYAL IMAGE is trained by Anthony Nunes for Barbados-based businessman Elias Haloute.

ALSAFRA became only the third filly in Jamaican racing history to win the Triple Cown, following Money Moon in 1937 and Simply Magic in 2002.

Harding won two other races on the day's card. He won the second race over three furlongs with WESTERN REPORT and the fourth race over six furlongs on BDELLIUM.

United States-based reinsman Allen Maragh opened the day's programme with an easy win on RUM TALK in the first race going eight furlongs.

Walker made up for his miss in the St Leger with wins in the seventh race on SANKOFA over 1,300 metres and MISS EILEEN in the 12th and final race going 1,200 metres.

Champion jockey Omar Walker scoring an easy win aboard SANKOFA in the seventh race over 1300 metres at Caymanas Park on Saturday. The five-year-old gelding by Royal Minister - Dance Parade is owned by Basil Brown and trained by Heaton Thomas.