IN a dramatic turn-up for the books, laced with an official enquiry and a jockey’s objection, trainer Richard Azan won his ninth Superstakes, this year sponsored by Burger King, with Franfield ridden by Winston Griffiths, who was winning for the eighth time in his long and illustrious career.

Franfield eventually survived the enquiry and the objection to record his biggest-ever win. The enquiry surrounded an incident leading into the turn near to the four-furlong marker when Franfield made his telling move for victory. In doing so, Wesley Henry on board then leader Uncle Taf, seemingly pulled his mount as Franfield spurted forward.

When Henry held off on Uncle Taf the motion caused noticeable interference to Perfect Neighbour, but the stewards of the race meeting ruled that there was none. The jockey’s objection was lodged by Robert Halledeen who rode Perfect Neighbour. The stewards then in a public announcement said they had interviewed Henry and he informed that his horse Uncle Taf was not interfered with by Franfield and that his horse had simply shied away.

So after those melodramatic events, Franfield was officially declared the winner of the 37th running of the Superstakes with a winning time for 10 furlongs of 2:08.2 minutes. Hovercraft ran on to be second with a disturbed Perfect Neighbour third. Franfield (Traditional -Super Lei) was bred by Hermine and Leisha Metcalfe. It was the second winner on the 13-race Superstakes programme for the dam Super Lei. Her other progeny Simply The Best made an auspicious debut in a two-year-old maiden event.

For trainer Azan, it was a dream come true winning his ninth Superstakes.

“Franfield does not have the class of the top two (Perfect Neighbour and Typewriter), but he is a good horse, and when I saw ‘Fanna’ (Griffiths) move away I knew he had a chance.

“I am a happy man this evening (yesterday) and I am just lucky to train horses that win the Superstakes. A really outstanding day for me, especially after the win by Zugulu in the big juvenile race,” Azan said.

As for Griffiths, he said: “Before the start of the race the best we could hope for was third. But when I went in front, I saw the chance and Franfield responded. It’s good winning such a big race at the Superstakes for the eighth time.”

Franfield’s margin of victory was five and a half lengths.

The next race meeting is scheduled for Wednesday of this week.