Impressive double for trainer Azan

RICHARD Azan’s POWER RANKING and ARTESIA upstaged favourites in back-to-back races yesterday, handing the veteran trainer the two biggest purses on the 10-race card.

Omar Walker made a decisive move with 9-2 chance ARTESIA down the backstretch to overpower RAW LIQUID early in the straight after attacking off the home turn in the restricted overnight allowance event at seven furlongs.

In contrast, Dick Cardenas got caught in traffic and had to take even-money favourite THE GOOD WITCH in hand, dropping from fifth to 11th in the 16-horse field, while trying to make her bid alongside ARTESIA down the backstretch.

In the six and a half furlong O & S Tack Room Trophy event for non-winners of four races, POWER RANKING benefited from 7-5 favourite YELLOWSTONE’S scrappy start from post-position one.

Caught on the line by stablemate PERFECT BREW at seven and a half furlongs two Saturdays ago, POWER RANKING slipped past AWESOME RICH and BUZZ CITY LIGHT a half-mile out to convincingly beat YELLOWSTONE, who flattened in the stretch run after recovering and chasing into the lane.

A 3-2 winner, POWER RANKING turned the tables on YELLOWSTONE, who had beaten him into fourth when finishing second to EMPEROR OF THE CATS on July 9 at five and a half furlongs, Azan’s runner’s first race back off a three-month lay-up.

Dane Dawkins’ second winner on the programme, POWER RANKING clocked 1:21.0, pushing the leading rider seven wins clear of defending champion Anthony Thomas atop the jockeys’standings.

Hunting his first title, Dawkins had earlier opened the card with ONE LIKE IT, beating three-year-old maidens at five furlongs round.

Three-time champion Thomas’ lone winner for the two days of weekend racing was 4-5 favourite CHRISANLI, who made hacks of rivals at five and a half furlongs in a $250,000 claiming event.

Racing continues on Saturday.