Ainsley Walters, Staff Reporter
Griffiths ... to pilot Miracle Man.
DERBY WINNER MIRACLE MAN is being touted as 'ready for 'A' Class' by the railbirds at Caymanas Park following an exciting five-furlong workout last Saturday morning, beating A KING IS BORN, the country's top rated horse.
Following back-to-back wins in this summer's Jamaica Derby and St. Leger, MIRACLE MAN was well beaten by top class runners when venturing outside his age group in August and October.
However, Saturday's workout transformed a sceptical backstretch into believers.
"He handled A KING IS BORN in no uncertain manner, while on a canter, and it will be no competition," said Richard Azan, whose ROYAL COMMAND shares topweight with MIRACLE MAN in the seven-horse field for this afternoon's Royal Dad Trophy, the 1820-metre midweek feature event.
Azan, has conceded victory to MIRACLE MAN, who will have Winston Griffiths aboard and fitted with the visor which he wore when beating A KING IS BORN at exercise.
COMPETITIVE FOR SECOND PLACE
"Without MIRACLE MAN it would have been a competitive race. It is now going to be competitive for second place," said Azan, the trainer businessman who heads Caymanas Entertainment Limited (CEL), the group with which government has entered negotiations for the privatisation of Caymanas Park.
Azan believes Caymanas Track Limited (CTL) should have restricted the event, not making the race open to MIRACLE MAN, who has proven himself to be a Grade One horse after posting wins in the Jamaica Derby and St. Leger.
"I thought this race was for like 'second eleven' horses and I think it's a little unfair for a horse such as MIRACLE MAN to be there. He should have been immediately classified in the top class. I believe they've written the programme wrong," he added.
MIRACLE MAN, who missed out on landing the Triple Crown series after a length and quarter loss to COLTRANE in April's 2000 Guineas, is the overwhelming favourite to trample his five rivals including ROYAL COMMAND, with whom he sits level at 57.0 kilos despite beating Azan's runner at the same weight in all four meetings they've shared this year.
"There's no doubt MIRACLE MAN and ROYAL COMMAND don't belong in the same class," Azan said.
ROYAL COMMAND, who beat Overnight Allowance runners at the distance early last month, found AD INFINITUM, another of his three-year-old classic rivals, too hot to handle at 2000 metres earlier this month, finishing a length fourth, relegated close home by MEDIC ON BOARD and WIMBLEDON.
In addition, the chestnut gelding failed to impress at exercise last Friday morning, beaten by two-year-old stablemate RAMPAGE in a five-furlong workout.
However, Azan admitted his runner had bled during the gallop but should report in good health for the Royal Dad.
Champion jockey Trevor Simpson, will be aboard ROYAL COMMAND, who should grab second from Anthony Nunes' improved American-bred filly, ALPHA LUPA, who impressed at a mile when getting off the mark late last month, posting 1:39.3 on a sloppy track.
