Thursday 1st April 2010
Awzaan on course
Awzaan ridden by Deirdre Johnston and led up by Mark Johnston. Picture: Hugh Routledge
RICHARD Hills was delighted after riding unbeaten StanJames.com 2000 Guineas contender Awzaan in a work-out at Middleham today.
The jockey was making his first visit to trainer mark Johnston’s Yorkshire base and had set off from Newmarket at 4.30am in the morning.
But it appeared a worthwhile journey for the experienced rider, who covered six furlongs aboard the Group 1 Shadwell Middle Park winner.
Awzaan, who is four from four, enjoyed his work-out on Johnston’s private all-weather gallop in company with Cry Of Freedom (Joe Fanning).
Hills said: “This morning was about getting reacquainted with Awzaan and he has wintered well.
“He moved well and showed a great attitude as he did last year so I am very happy.
“I have always felt that he is an easy horse to ride. He relaxes and has a good turn of foot.”
The rider also sent out a positive message about the stamina of Awzaan, who has yet to race beyond six furlongs.
“I’ve absolutely no doubt that he will get the mile,” said Hills about the 10/1 chance for Saturday May 1‘s Classic at Newmarket. “He is by Alhaarth and they normally stay.”
Awzaan did nothing but progress last year and has sustained his trainer and the team at Kingsley House Stables through the off-season.
Johnston said: “You go into the winter dreaming about the Classics.
“We look at people like Aidan O’Brien and Godolphin and envy that they’ve got several Classic contenders to pick from.
“I’d like to think that there is a couple more out there (at Kingsley House) that will materialise later in the season, but at this stage, we’ve got one serious Group-winning two-year-old going on to the Guineas.
“And it is vitally important for us - it is what keeps the morale going.”
This morning there certainly seemed a buoyant atmosphere at the stables, nestled into the heart of Middleham, located deep in James Herriott country.
As the sun shone in a vain attempt to penetrate the bitter wind, Awzaan positively glowed as Mark’s wife Deirdre rode him at the head of the string through the town to the exercise ground
Johnston said: “It has been a freezing winter, it is a freezing day but he has never been clipped and he has got a great coat on him,
“The good ones tend to be really good doers, are always going to look well, are always going to look the fittest horse in the string. And he looks as healthy as the ones who have been in Dubai.”
Today’s gallop was just a step along the path to the proving ground that is the StanJames.com 2000 Guineas and there is plenty of water to flow under the bridge before then.
Now it is on to Newmarket for a racecourse gallop at the Craven meeting and then it’s the ultimate test itself.
Suffice to say, we wish Awzaan and the Johnston team well.
By Tony Rushmer
