ALSAFRA, with Brian Harding up, winning the Jamaica Oaks on April 26. - file

It's that time of the year again when the best three-year olds compete in classic races all over the world.

The Americans have already run the Kentucky Derby with the very fast Big Brown, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, outclassing his rivals to win at Churchill Downs, on May 3.

The Americans will have the second leg of their Triple Crown series this Saturday with the top horses, including Big Brown, travelling to Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, for the Preakness Stakes.

Over in England, the 2000 and 1000 Guineas were run on the weekend of May 3 and 4. The Irish colt Henrythenavigator, ridden by Johnny Murtagh, took the 2000 Guineas on May 3. The following day, the French filly, Natagora, with Christophe Lemaire up, triumphed over her rivals in the 1000 Guineas. It's now on to the English Derby on June 7 where the unbeaten Henry Cecil-trained colt, Twice Over, is the 7:2 ante post favourite.

Here in Jamaica, both the 1000 and 2000 Guineas have also been run with Alsafra, trained by Fitznahum Williams, taking the fillies' Classic and the Anthony Nunes-conditioned Royal Image scoring easily among the colts.

While Royal Image has been resting, Alsafra has since confirmed her class by romping the Jamaica Oaks by almost nine lengths in an impressive 2:07.1.

Both Royal Image and Alsafra are now set a mega clash in the Digicel Jamaica Derby on June 14.

Looking back at Guineas day there was little to chose, in my view, between the two. The 2000 Guineas was run in a mini-storm in late afternoon with a strong wind blowing up the final straight. The fillies who had competed an hour earlier, had things a bit easier in a much milder wind.

The colts, who had the advantage of the strong wind in the first 1200 metres, had splits of 22.4, 45.3, 1:10.1 for a final time of 1:39.0. The fillies returned splits of 24.1, 47.0, 1:11.4 and 1:39.1. I have said there was little to chose between the two because while the strong wind would have placed the colts at a distinct disadvantage in the last 400m, they surely were given a real big push earlier on.

In the final analysis, the Brian Harding-ridden filly Alsafra did her last 400m in 27.2 seconds while Royal Image with Shane Ellis aboard completed his in 28.4.

Alsafra, again ridden by Harding, showed she was of the highest class with top-level splits (24.2, 48.3, 1:13.2, 1:40.1) in the Oaks.

If Alsafra continues to improve and reproduces anything close to that form in the Derby, she will not be beaten on June 14.

While I think it was a factor apart, I am not totally convinced that it was the strong head wind which prevented the colts from running a faster time in the 2000 Guineas. Royal Image was eased down by Shane Ellis but Commander Zero did not appear to get the distance and should not be a factor in the Derby. With the wily Harding to guide her, Alsafra will outstay the colts on Derby day and give trainer Williams his first win in the premier Classic.

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