Ainsley Walters, Star Writer

ALL eyes will be on Everal Francis' COMMANDING CHIEF tomorrow afternoon when the three-year-old chestnut gelding returns to the track in the second race over a mile after his smashing debut late last month.

COMMANDING CHIEF zipped home in 1:19.2 for 1300 metres on May 28, putting owner Orett Wellington in a mind spin as to whether he should have taken his chances in the June 11 Jamaica Derby.

Wellington decided against rushing the colt to face the best three-year-olds in the land but vowed he'd be back for the July 2 Jamaica St Leger.

Tomorrow's one-mile event was earmarked early as COMMANDING CHIEF's St Leger warm-up, and the gelding has more than impressed at exercise.

On derby morning, he put in a gallop which bettered anything seen earlier that week from any of his peers preparing for the $9m event.

In a mind-boggling nine-furlong gallop, COMMANDING CHIEF was clocked in 1:57.0, completing the last seven in 1:28.0.

He returned Sunday morning to post 35.0 for three furlongs, another impressive early-morning spin.

With TECHNOMOTO slamming rivals in the derby two weeks ago, punters will be gauging COMMANDING CHIEF for the St Leger, especially how he handles tomorrow's mile.

With such glowing exercise reports, COMMANDING CHIEF will be racing the clock from the word go. Punters are best advised to find the exacta horse. Similarly, COMMANDING CHIEF's four-year-old stablemate, GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY, who takes on non-winners-of-three in the fourth event at 1300 metres, is another five-star banker on the nine-race card.

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY came on late as a three-year-old last year, finishing down the track on his June 10 debut but returned minus the figure-eight and treated with lasix to score an eight-length win a month later.

He was outclassed by SHE'S SMOKIN at 1400 metres on August 7, losing in a fast 1:26.0, but franked the form by leaving PRINCE OF ARASBIA for dead a furlong out when he returned at nine furlongs on August 21.

Something went amiss and the colt went on a five-month rest, returning as a four-year-old on January 22 this year. However, he finished down the track behind GLOBAL WARMING. His follow-up run was no better, ninth behind MERIT'S BRITE LITE on February 12. After another lay-up, GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY returns tomorrow, working like a bomb. He posted 1:14.2 for six furlongs derby morning and clocked 35.1 for three last Sunday.

With that type of form, a quick double awaits trainer Francis and Wellington. Tomorrow should be another day for form players, especially the first six races, so go with WHITE STAR, COMMANDING CHIEF, SIR D, GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY, LIFEISJUSFORLIVING and SUNDOWN.