In form Mike Azzie’s ever professional outfit will have his Vodacom Durban July day string in tip top condition and he was bullish about a number of his nine runners on the day.
Deputy Jud (Nkosi Hlophe)
He runs Deputy Jud in the big one from draw 15 with stable jockey Corné Orffer up and said, “He is doing exceptionally well, he’s not a horse that over exerts himself in work, but his demeanour and his condition is in in top shape. I can honestly say we have never had him moving better than the way he is moving and this morning’s (Tuesday’s) work really excited me. He wasn’t near ready for the Daily News 2000 and has come on tremendously since then.”
In the Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m Azzie has a strong hand with four runners and he said, “The stable elect would definitely be Frosted Honey. Mella Maria and Meliflora have both done very well since they’ve been down here, their preps have been faultless. Had Frosted Honey not had a hiccup I would not be concerned about any horse in that field, but she did have a hiccup coming into this race and my major concern is that she might just be behind the eight ball, but her work has been phenomenal and she has come to hand beautifully. I think La Strada is a little bit out of her depth.
He continued, “Prince Of Orange (race 8) must be a big runner, he’s working very, very well, he’s got a good rider (Raymond Danielson), get him nicely placed and we see how the race unfolds. I think the horse everybody has to beat is MLJet.”
Mella Maria (Nkosi Hlophe)
Rock Me Var (10th) put up some eyecatching work yesterday (Tuesday) on the beach sand and Azzie said, “He’s done very well since coming down to KZN and has taken to the polytrack like a duck to water. He’s coming from a deep draw but he’s well and we’re hoping he can continue in his winning form.”
“Isphan (11th) was forced wide early in the Post Merchants which didn’t help and he’s coming from another deep draw here, but he’s in very, very good shape and is working exceptionally well. If he can overcome that draw it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see him win a race like that.”
Azzie’s contender in the last, the KZN Yearling Sale Million, is the eyecatching Var colt Hot August and he said, “He was bought and has been prepped specifically for this race, everything has been towards this day. I’m just hoping everything pans out the way we expect it to. He is a big runner. I deliberately ran him in that last night race to give him a good look at track and the lights. So, he will be familiar with his surroundings. It was all a build-up, he was well in need of the run, and has come on in leaps and bounds.”
By David Thiselton
VDJ betting now open: Jackpot ONE Leg 1 starts in race 5 – estimated pool R2,1million.
