Azaria wants a piece of the Pick-3 pie
Although it will be very difficult to get by the two top contenders — Patriarch and Another Vigorous , trainer Gary Griffiths hopes that his filly Azaria will collect a share of the pie in tomorrow’s Pick-3 Super Challenge Trophy.
Griffiths said that while it is his intention to win, he would be satisfied with either a third or fourth-place finish for Azaria.
“If we are beaten by the two best colts among the juveniles, then that simply means that we would be the top filly, and that would be great for us,” he said.
Azaria made an impact on September 30 when she came from well off the pace in wet conditions to beat Woodhouse and Free Marie in a six-furlong (1,200m) event. Woodhouse subsequently endorsed the form of that race with a good win on Saturday last.
The Performing Magic offspring’s one-and-a-quarter-length victory in a time of 1:15.3 was an indication of a horse with some ability. However, in her next race on October 28, Azaria was outclassed by Honey Ryda, finishing in fifth place in the five-and-a-half furlong (1,100m) event won in a time of 1:07.1.
Since then Griffiths informed that his bay filly has been training well coming into the Pick-3 race.
“ Azaria worked brilliantly the other morning. She worked 1:14.0 for six furlongs easy, and I liked that gallop. To be honest, if we can’t beat the two top horses in the race, which are Patriarch and Another Vigorous — two talented runners, but if we can get a slice of the pie, then we would be happy with that,” Griffiths told The Supreme Racing Guide.
The second-generation trainer said that the distance of seven furlongs (1,400m) would not be a problem for his charge.
“The distance won’t be a bother or problem for her as she can go long. Azaria is a nice filly and I hope she runs well,” he said.
The Pick-3 Super Challenge Trophy is the second leg in the Supreme Ventures Limited-sponsored Two-Year-Old Triple Crown series, and will be contested over seven furlongs (1,400m) for a purse of $3.6 million.
The series started in October with the Cash Pot ‘Only One For Me’ Trophy over six furlongs (1,200m), and will come to an end on December 26 with the running of the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes going one mile (1,600m).
