MARK MY WORD (left) with Omar Walker aboard getting the better of COMMANDING CHIEF to win Caymanas Track Limited Red Stripe Superstakes at Caymanas Park last year. - File

Jimmie, Star Racing Writer

MARK MY WORD should notch a third straight Superstakes victory tomorrow afternoon despite his ever-present rival from last year, COMMANDING CHIEF, and TYPEWRITER, this year's derby and St Leger winner.

The defending Superstakes champion all but confirmed his superiority over COMMANDING CHIEF by returning off a seven-month lay-up, allowing his rival weight, and beating him in the Governor General's Stakes on October 15 at Superstakes distance of 10 furlongs.

Throw into the mix that MARK MY WORD was apprentice-ridden that afternoon, allowing COMMANDING CHIEF five pounds, making it that much harder for him to turn the tables on the defending champion at level weight of 57.0 kilos at his pet trip tomorrow.

Omar Walker, who won aboard MARK MY WORD when the five-year-old debuted in March in the 1400-metre Eros Trophy, partners COMMANDING CHIEF, a plus in the four-year-old gelding's favour.

However, it will be a much sharper MARK MY WORD who COMMANDING CHIEF will face. Trainer Richard Azan has taken his runner to task at exercise for his third start this year, completing his last workout in a bullet 1:27.4 for seven furlongs.

Though both horses have risen nine pounds at the scale, MARK MY WORD is used to carrying that weight and beating a lighter COMMANDING CHIEF. He did so in last year's Superstakes, allowing COMMANDING CHIEF seven pounds, beating him by a length and quarter.

Classic jock Winston Griffths partners MARK MY WORD in his quest for glory and hardly makes mistakes in these races.

The derby and St Leger winner, TYPEWRITER, is up two classes from his three-year-old stomping ground. He lost his warm-up race on October 31, beaten by United States-bred NOON IT IS at 1300 metres. However, he is expected to prefer a slower pace and should run well with 54.0 kilos.

Nevertheless, it will be the derby winner's first race in grade one where they run from start to finish at 10 furlongs. It will be a different kettle of fish from the St Leger when he fought off the filly STAR FLYER and held on to beat UNCLE DONNY closing from off the pace in 2:10.1.

MARK MY WORD and COMMANDING CHIEF put up 2:06.0 last time out and, at worst, will run 2:08.0, still a far cry from TYPEWRITER's St Leger 2:10.1.