Hamilton
Two-time champion owner Howard Hamilton has won nearly all the major grade one races on the calendar, including the Derby, Guineas, Caribbean Sprint and Superstakes.
But he has never won the St Leger, which has turned out to be his jinx race.
He was on the verge of winning the Triple Crown with A KING IS BORN and DISTINCTLY IRISH in 2003 and 2004, respectively. However, despite both starting overwhelming favourites in the St Leger, they were caught and beaten within shades of the wire by HERECOMESFUDGIE and RUN PAPA RUN, respectively, denying the popular owner Triple Crown glory.
Indeed, the defeat was so hard to take on the second occasion that Hamilton broke down in tears after the race.
Significantly, both A KING IS BORN and DISTINCTLY IRISH went on to win 'Horse-of-the-Year' awards the same year they failed to win the St Leger.
Tomorrow at Caymanas Park, Hamilton is hoping to break the jinx with the Dwight Chen-trained POSEIDON, who finished a close up third to HE'S REALLY OK and BRUCEONTHELOOSE in the recent United Bookmakers Association Jamaica Derby over 2400 metres.
A terrible race
"I should have won the Derby easily," he lamented. "But I think the jockey rode a terrible race, giving the horse too much to do and in the end lost by only a length.
"I have a good jockey in Brian Harding on this occasion, POSEIDON is ready to show his true worth and the shorter distance won't be a problem," he explained.
"I'm very confident of winning this time, so much so that I fear no horse - neither HE'S REALLY OK nor BRUCEONTHELOOSE.
"The plan is win my first St Leger with POSEIDON, then run him in the Trinidad Derby in September. If he stays healthy, we'll journey to Puerto Rico for the Caribbean Classic in December," he disclosed.
Hamilton, who has been associated with local racing for close to 50 years, won the coveted Horse-of-the-Year award with A KING IS BORN in 2003 and repeated the feat with DISTINCTLY IRISH in 2004 and 2007.
He was recently returned unopposed as president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders' Association (TOBA) for a 13th consecutive year and is the recipient of the coveted None Such award for lifetime achievement in racing.
Hamilton is a co-owner of HAM Stables Limited, the largest stud farm not only in Jamaica, but the entire Caribbean.
POSEIDON with Dane Nelson aboard. He will be ridden by visiting Trinidadian jockey Brian Harding tomorrow.