KINGSTON, Jamaica - RICHARD Azan has complete confidence in his charge Mojito to win the Jamaica St Leger, the second jewel in the Triple Crown series of races — the kind of certainty expected from the Hall of Fame trainer.
Mojito is the morning line favourite for the 10-furlong (2,000 metres) after a crushing victory in the 49th running of the $3.75-million Jamaica 2000 Guineas Classic on Sunday, June 4, which confirmed his credentials as the finest among his peers.
Mojito, last season’s champion two-year-old, won the Futurity race for native-bred three-year-old colts and geldings over one mile (1,600m) by 12 1/2 lengths in 1:37.2 (24.1 x 46.3 x 1:10.3), for his fifth victory in seven lifetime starts.
Azan said that his three-year-old grey colt Mojito (Savoy Stomp – Fiftyshadesofray) came out of the 2000 Guineas in fine shape and is training very well for the Jamaica St Leger.
“He [Mojito] came out of the race [the Jamaica 2000 Guineas] very well and so he has kept his condition, and he is working pretty well for the race, and so we are hoping for the best from him in the Jamaica St Leger,” Azan stated.
Azan stated that Mojito is in good form and that he has no reservations about competing in the Jamaica St Leger.
“Well, the way he [Mojito] has been running, you don’t want much more from him as you can’t get much more improvement than that because he has been performing magnificently. We just hope that he maintains that level, and if he maintains it then I think we are going to be okay,” Azan said.
