The Richard Azan-conditioned Market Force (Adore The Gold – You Can’t Hide) showed signs that he has more than just average ability when racing for the first time at Caymanas Park last Saturday.

Ridden by in-form apprentice Bebeto Harvey, Market Force raced prominently behind Thornhill Miss (Ruja Lahoe) and She’s A Legacy (Shamaree Muir) approaching the half-mile.

The bay colt then picked up the lead at the top of the straight and although shortening a bit in the last half a furlong, Market Force did just enough and held on by a halflength from the fast-finishing pair of Great Faith (Paul Francis) and Akash (Shane Ellis) in the maiden special weight event over 1,100 metres.

The winning time was a good 1:07.2 minutes behind splits of 23.2 and 46.3 seconds. For sure, the opposition that Market Force faced was not the best of the juvenile crop, but Azan said that it was a victory which was indicative of a talented horse with much more scope for improvement.

“The performance was very good. He (Market Force) ran a good race to win and I am happy. To win in an eleven -horse field the first time of asking is pretty good as well.

“I think this horse has a lot of scope of improvement. He wasn’t hard-trained coming into the race and he came out and executed well, and so I think he has a lot of potential.

“The plan coming into the race was just like how he ran. Get a good break and the jockey didn’t force him, then he took it up the lead at the turn and held on,” Azan told the Complete Racing Guide.