A Quick analysis of the 100th Jamaica Derby won in battling style by 18-1 outsider King Arthur
KINGSTON, Jamaica – King Arthur ruled supreme as the 18-1 winner of the historic Jamaica Derby (12 furlongs) run at Caymanas Park earlier today (Saturday, October 31, 2020).
Ridden by Phillip Parchment, trained by Wayne DaCosta owned by Carlton Watson and bred by Glenlee Robinson, King Arthur defeated Nipster (Steadman Curtis) and Another Affair (Jerome Innis) to earn an honoured place at the winners’ Derby round table.
The mud and slop of the race track were advantageous to King Arthur (Natural Selection – Geisha’s Art) and allied with the hard riding, hard knocking exploits of Parchment in the saddle and the adroit training ability of DaCosta plus racing with the tongue tie off made all the difference in the end.
King Arthur was nicked on September 6 in the Royal Dad Trophy (nine furlongs and 25 yards) by Nipster with Oneofakind just behind. Nipster went on to win the St Leger and Oneofakind was third while King Arthur did not compete. The form of the Royal Dad has now held true as the three-year-old Classic season came to a glorious finish.
What of the rest?
Nipster showed that he is resilient and will continue to perform with distinction for his connections especially travelling two turns.
Filly Another Affair was outstanding and strong in finishing third. She led at a steady pace from the off and had her rider Jerome Innis not let his whip slip from his grasp inside the last half-a-furlong, it might have been a different outcome in the 2020 Derby.
Oneofakind did everything asked of him by jockey Dane Nelson but his Derby effort petered out where it mattered most – the last two furlongs.
Money Monster surprised many by finishing in fifth place but he is a known mud lark who was suited to the sloppy track.
The two most celebrated horses three-year-olds in the Derby line-up Wow Wow and Mahogany have now proven they are not effective going longer than a mile.
Mahogany got into the picture with six furlongs left in the race but had nothing left when the top three went by with 3 ½ furlongs left in the contest.
Of the others Double Crown, Green Gold Rush and Fearless Champion, the less said the better.
Shepanza was a late non-starter.
