By Orville Clarke, Freelance writer 
MENUDO (Andrew Ramget) romps last year's Superstakes to complete a hat-trick of wins in the prestigious 2000 metres race. The six year old gelding goes for an historic fourth win this Saturday with Ramget again in the saddle. - File
IN RECENT years no other trainer has enjoyed a better record in the prestigious Red Stripe Superstakes than Richard Azan.
The 50-year-old owner/trainer has won it four times since 1995, the last three in succession with current 'Horse of the Year' MENUDO.
Come Saturday, MENUDO goes for an historic fourth consecutive win, gunning to surpass three-time 'Horse of the Year" THE VICEROY who won the Superstakes for trainer Philip Feanny as a three-year-old in 1989, 1990 and 1992.
Azan, who also saddles his topline three-year-old colt SIR DONALD for the 24th running of the mile and quarter invitational race, says his two horses will be competitive. However, the focus no doubt will be on the illustrious 6-y-o gelding MENUDO, for obvious reasons.
Can an ageing MENUDO, who is without a win in seven starts this season, rise to the occasion?
"If all goes well, I think he can", declared Azan.
"I say if all goes well because he has declined somewhat this season due to unsoundness. This can be attributed to his failure to win even though running some brave races in defeat under big weights, notably his short head second to MILLIMETRE in the Pepsi Challenge Cup some weeks ago."
Azan went on to explain that MENUDO has been affected by a minor joint problem, back ailment and a bleeding problem.
"As a result, we have had to be working hard on him for each race. However, I am hoping that with the handicaps being in his favour this time, he can pull it off.
"Although getting on in years, Menudo still has the class to do well again the very best horses over a distance of ground. He is working as best as possible and the fact that Andrew Ramgeet will ride him again is a plus in his favour," he argues.
Still, Azan sees the outstanding three-year-old filly SIMPLY MAGIC, winner of this year's Triple Crown, as the horse to beat by virtue of the conditions of weight allotment.
"She's the fly in the ointment with only 52.0kg," he explains. "What's more she has been working brilliantly... galloping seven furlongs in 1:26.2 on Sunday morning.
"She also has a good rider in Brian Harding who I recall won back to back Superstakes with ADORING GROOM (1996) with MY FRIEND RICH (1997)."
Apart from the Philip Feanny-trained SIMPLY MAGIC, Azan believes the other outstanding filly in the race, Patrick Chang's AWESOME POWER is going to run her heart out and could win, while Feanny's MILLIMETRE and the improving 3-y-o ROYAL RUN, who he claims is working like a bomb, cannot be left out of calculations, nor for that matter can SIR DONALD who won the Lotto Classic (Governor's Cup) over the Superstakes distance back in May.
"This is going to be one of the most competitive Superstakes in many years," he predicts. "It's a true 'A' class race and the best horse on the day will win."
He is keeping his fingers crossed that it will be either MENUDO or SIR DONALD. And knowing Azan, his charges cannot be taken lightly on the big occasions.
Azan first won the Superstakes with his Derby and Governor's Cup winner DORVAL under the legendary jockey George HoSang in 1995. And DORVAL went on to capture the coveted 'Horse of the Year' award.
The success of DORVAL in what was Azan's first full season as a licenced trainer was later eclipse by MENUDO, who first won the Superstakes in 1999 and followed up in 2000 and 2001.
MENUDO, who has also won the Harry Jackson Memorial Cup over a mile a half on three consecutive occasions not to mention the Prime Minister's Stakes and Governor General's Stakes a number of times, was named 'Horse of the Year' in 2000 and 2001.
Given his remarkable run in the big races, it could be said that Azan is perhaps the best trainer never having won a championship. What he has dominated is the owners' championship, having won it for the past four years and is on course for a fifth title.
A successful businessman outside of training, Azan who represents Jamaica at skeet shooting, first tasted success as an owner in Panama where he resided for seven years in the late 70s and 80s. He was lucky to own an outstanding three-year-old filly, SEVEN STAR, who won 14 races in Panama during 1981 to be named the 3-y-o champion.
Azan returned to Jamaica in 1984 and was soon involved in racing as an owner. He acquired a horse by the name of RAMEL and by 1986 became more deeply involved in the sport as assistant trainer to Fitz Crawford.
He became a full fledged trainer in 1994, graduating from a batch including such notables as Anthony Nunes, Adin Williams and Robert Darby.
That same year, DORVAL put him on the map by winning the Derby and the Superstakes, among other major races. And he has never looked back.
Azan, who also runs the very fit NEFTENGA in the $1.5 million Red Stripe Caribbean Sprint, a race he won last year with COOL WATER, says the recipe for his success is dedication and "trying to buy good horses".
