Orville Clarke, Freelance Reporter

Millicent Lynch (second right), executive manager, marketing, at Caymanas Track Limited, holds the Digicel Trophy alongside Yvonne Wilks (second left), head of corporate affairs, Digicel, and Maurice Bryan, sponsorship and promotions manager, Digicel, during the launch of the Digicel Jamaica Derby at HAM Stud Farm, Port Henderson Road, St Catherine, yesterday. Also involved in the trophy presentation is Ruth-Ann Smith-Sutherland, general manager, Jamaica Racing Commission. The prestigious race will be run at Caymanas Park on Saturday, June 14. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

The 88th running of the Digicel Jamaica Derby will be run at Caymanas Park on Saturday, June 14 and sponsor Digicel has gone the extra mile to make it a memorable occasion.

Plans for Digicel Derby Day were outlined at yesterday's launch on the lawns of HAM Stables Stud Farm, Port Henderson Road, St Catherine, by representatives of the sponsor and promoter, Caymanas Track Limited (CTL).

Contributions

Digicel has contributed $4 million to purses, including $2 million to the mile and a half classic (2400m) for native bred three-year-olds, the second leg of the Triple Crown.

This year's Derby offers a whopping purse of $5 million, up from $4.25 million last year. It is being billed as a clash worth going miles to see between the talented filly ALSAFRA and the impressive colt ROYAL IMAGE, the two horses still in line for Triple Crown glory.

The Fitznahum Williams-trained ALSAFRA won both the Jamaica Licensed Bookmakers 1000 Guineas and Bigga Jamaica Oaks earlier this season, while ROYAL IMAGE, from the high-powered stables of Anthony 'Baba' Nunes, won the Jamaica Licensed Bookmakers 2000 Guineas on April 5.

Proud

Yvonne Wilks, speaking in her capacity as head of corporate affairs, Digicel, said her company was proud to call the 88th Jamaica Derby its own.

"Each year of our involvement the Derby has got bigger, better and more exciting and I know that this year will not disappoint.

"Digicel is known to make winners. One could not accuse us of gambling in our support of the Jamaica Olympic Association and in particular, Usain Bolt, who seemingly has come from nowhere to become Jamaica's latest bright hope for sprinting gold.

Safe bet

"The horse racing industry too is a safe bet. On Saturday, June 14, we do it again. For the fourth consecutive year, Digicel is strengthening our association with the sport and staging the Digicel Derby, which is the premier event on Jamaica's horseracing calendar.

"As usual, we expect it to be a delightful day as we, the king of networks, support the Sport of Kings," Wilks said.

Raceday details

Denzil Miller Jr., CTL's racing secretary, provided raceday details. He disclosed that the 12 races on Derby Day combine for a total purse package of $11.6 million and Digicel will provide sponsorship for three of these. The Derby is run in honour of Sir John Mordecai, for the Digicel Silver Trophy. The others are the $1.5 million Digicel Irish Jamaican Stakes (Grade One) over 1300 metres and the $750,000 Digicel Juvenile Stakes for native bred two-year-olds over 600 metres straight.

Digicel will also contribute $100,000 each to the purses of six other races and $50,000 each to three other races on the card.

Expected starters

The expected starters for the Derby are ROYAL IMAGE, ALSAFRA, JOSIE WALES, MINISTEROFJUSTICE, LEONIDAS, EVANDER, MR. BLAIR, LITTLERICHBOY, GIRLOFMYDREAMS, GAMBOA, GOOD HOPE, STAR OF THE SEA, REGAL SELECTION and possibly COMMANDER ZERO and Saturday's Lotto Classic winner, the filly IT IS I.