On December 27, 2016, Tuxedo defeated Rambunctious Links in a two-year-old maiden condition event over six and a half furlongs (1,300m). That was the last winner for well-decorated conditioner Richard Azan as, during the over two months and 19 racedays of 2017, he surprisingly failed to enter the winners’ enclosure.

But this lean spell had to come to an end and it did last Saturday when Rogamma (Bebeto Harvey) galloped her way on the scene as a possible contender for the upcoming Classic races which get under way next month with the 1,000 Guineas (fillies) and 2,000 Guineas (colts and geldings) over a mile (1,600m).

The offspring of Blue Pepsi Lodge – Gamma Knife, got up in time to win the maiden condition Fayval Williams Trophy for native-bred three-year-old fillies by three parts of a length over seven furlongs (1,400m).Rogamma’s victory also provided Harvey, the top apprentice of last year, with a long-overdue win.

“It has been a long time since I have had a winner, but such is the sport of horse racing and I am just happy for this winning moment,” Azan said. Interestingly, on Saturday Rambunctious Links released his maiden tag.

Azan then shared how the victory came about.

“Well for the first time in the three times that Rogamma has raced, the jockey rode her exactly to instructions and that paid off. Following instructions is key.

“The instructions were not to try and go to the lead with her, rather just to sit off the pace, wait a little and run on with her in the last half of the race. Rogamma responded well from that and look, she won,” Azan explained with glee in his voice.

When asked if he is considering entering Rogamma in the upcoming Classic race, Azan, without hesitation, said, ‘Yes’.

“Why not? Rogamma is heading towards the Classic races. She is a nice filly and she is improving,” he said.

At the off, Rogamma was held off the pace by Harvey as Princess Katriel (Omar Walker) led the field with chasersDeal Marker (Anthony Thomas), Big Show (Oneil Mullings) and Lady Eli (Hakeem Pottinger).

Rogamma went down into a striking position when she began to round horses at the half-mile marker.

She responded well and was able to get up in the last half-furlong to win by three-quarter length from the also fast-finishing Laws Of The Code (Richard Mitchell), who was cramped for space in deep stretch.

Deal Marker, who was making her debut, did well to finish third ahead of long-time leader Princess Katriel. The winning time was an encouraging 1:27.1.