RSS Feed
Follow us on Twitter
Star YouTube Channel
Richard Azan
TRAINER Richard Azan is wary of the additional three kilos MARK MY WORD will carry over 2000 metres in Saturday's Superstakes after beating COMMANDING CHIEF with 54.0 in the September 24 Rum Fire Invitational at 1500 metres.
Azan is hunting a remarkable seventh Superstakes victory with MARK MY WORD who, if he repeats last year's win, will only be the third horse to have scored back-to-back triumphs in the 31-year-old race.
DORVAL handed Azan his first Superstakes in 1995 before the immortal MENUDO ruled for four years, 1999-2002, but the extra weight could be tricky - even though MARK MY WORD's main rival, COMMANDING CHIEF, has also picked up weight.
"I allowed him three kilos in the Rum Fire but it's a big difference going up in the scale to 57.0, the three kilos becomes a little different when going up to top weight," he pointed out.
Azan said COMMANDING CHIEF, who will carry 54.0 kilos on Saturday, will be a tough opponent although MARK MY WORD has already allowed him three kilos and beaten him.
"I am sure he's a very live threat because he's working really well. I believe it will be a nice race," he said, warning that Spencer Chung's grey, THE GUV, who recently beat CASSANOVA BOY in an open allowance event, should not be ruled out of Superstakes consideration.
"THE GUV has been working and running well. Don't discard THE GUV," he pointed out.
MARK MY WORD, he said, is close to his Rum Fire victory form but doesn't necessarily believe the additional distance gives the 2010 Triple Crown winner an advantage over COMMANDING CHIEF.
I think he's pretty near that form but I won't commit to him having an advantage at the distance because COMMANDING CHIEF has won 10 furlongs cantering, so I don't think it's an advantage. We have equal advantage in that respect."
However, Azan is confident that his chestnut champion will put on a show.
"The horse is well and has worked well so we hope for the best," he said. "I am pretty satisfied with his overall preparation."
Champion jockey Omar Walker is aboard MARK MY WORD, replacing Dick Cardenas who is aboard Anthony Nunes' derby winner, TECHNOMOTO.
Both TECHNOMOTO and MARK MY WORD should leave the island after the Superstakes for the December 3 Caribbean Nations Raceday Challenge in Trinidad and Tobago.
However, Azan said that race is far from his mind.
"We'll think about Trinidad after Saturday evening," he said. "There's no focus on Trinidad now. The focus is here on this race."
