Mike Azzie sends out a horse many are talking about, Rabada, in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m on Super Saturday at Greyville over the weekend and has a strong back up in that race with Abashiri.

He also has runners in two other Gr 1 events on the day. He said, “The Premiers is a full field and is a tricky race because a lot of horses that will want to be up handy are drawn wide and there will be a lot of jostling for position. So we’re putting in High Game to ensure a good gallop, we don’t want horses coming around and slowing it up.

“Everybody is speaking about Rabada, so all the pressure is on the poor horse, but the form behind him is proven. In six months’ time Abashiri will be as good as Rabada if not better and looks to be a classic horse.

Rabada (Nkosi Hlophe)

“Anton is a bonus on Rabada, he is a thinking jockey and always arrives on course with a plan. I snapped up Anthony Delpech for Abashiri when I heard he was available. All three runners are in good shape, particularly the two big horses.

“Obviously my two colts are massive runners but it’s a Gr 1 and there are a lot of horses in there, like Dominic Zaki’s Prospect Strike who won by 12 lengths first time out and then ran third behind Seventh Plain in the Gold Medallion. But in saying that Mogok Master ran 1,4 lengths off Seventh Plain on July day and was six lengths off Rabada before that, so if you go purely on form you can look at it like that but form always gets turned upside down and inside out.”

In fact Mogok Master’s collateral form with Rabada and Seventh Plain could be a touch misleading as he was very unlucky in the Rabada race, but got a clear run against Seventh Plain.

Azzie runs Deputy Jud in the Gr 1 Champions Cup over 1800m and said, “It’s well documented how I felt about the ride he was given in the July and it left me wondering what the hell went on and I wanted to see exactly where my horse is. He came through the race well and I opted to leave him in here and use it as a barometer to see where we stand with him, although he’s obviously not well in at the weights.”

In the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m he has three runners and said, “Mella Maria is a nice filly and must be in the race with a shout. Obviously I have healthy respect for Chestnuts N Pearls, she won the Golden Slipper in good fashion and she’s probably the horse everybody’s going to have to beat.

“Melliflora won a marvellous race last time over a mile at Scottsville and won a mile at Greyville so is unbeaten over that distance. She comes into the race with an undeniable chance.

“La Strada ran a cracker in the Golden Slipper when just 2,5 lengths behind the winner. She was underdone and definitely in need of the run so I’m hoping she can improve on that. But my first choice would probably be Melliflora because of the fact that she’s unbeaten over the distance.”

He runs Easy Game in the eleventh over 1000m and said, “She’s probably my most realistic chance of winning a race on the day, she’s in good form and I think the last time she was a little unlucky to get beat, but she beat that horse (Miss Varlicious) in the race before that and I think if she can handle the poly she’s the horse they’re going to have to beat. She has worked on the poly back home and does well there.”

He runs Game Of Thrones in the first over 1400m on the poly and said, “He’s coming down from Jo’burg. In his last three races he’s won twice and my son said he’s very well in himself. His blood picture is perfect and we prep him on the polytracks at home and he does well on it.”

By David Thiselton

National Champion Trainer elect Sean Tarry has two runners in the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m on Super Saturday at Greyville and contests all three of the other Gr 1s on the card too.

He said, “Gold Onyx was very unlucky in the July and would have been beaten a few lengths at the most. He seems to have come on from that run and I don’t think the draw is a problem as he will come from off them. It’s a big ask to give a horse like Wild One 5kg but he is well.

“Kolkata improved last time, although maybe not as much as we expected, but he is definitely on the up and could still improve a few lengths. It doesn’t look like he’s where he was when running second in the Gold Cup in 2011, but I’m happy to have got him in with a low weight and a good draw. He’s had a reasonable prep, but I can’t give real confidence.”

In the Gr 1 Thekwini over 1600m he runs Old Em, who is by Trippi out of the Tarry-trained sprinting type Lady Bequick. Her form over 1160m has worked out well, considering the horse that beat her by a head last time, Sapsan, went on finish third in the Gr 1 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m last time out.

He said, “She’s a very good filly and she’s in good shape. We’re taking a chance with a mile. Her mother being by National Assembly was a sprint type both physically and in races, whereas she has a little more scope and on the female line she will stay the trip. But she also has a lot of speed so it’s no guarantee she will get the mile.

“However, I believe if you can settle a filly like this and come from off them she can see it out.”

He has four runners in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes over 1600m and said, “Malak El Moolook has done very well and his work has been exceptional. It was a bit short last time on the poly but for that type of stake money we had to take a chance and at least he’s had a look at the surroundings. It’s the right course and distance and I expect a good showing. Escape Route is trying the blinkers, because he gets lost early in his races and gives away too much start. If he doesn’t travel with them it’s hard to come from last at Greyville against this class of horse. He’s in good shape and he’s a class horse and if he can make use of his draw I think he will be in the finish.

“Rikitikitana is a maiden but did run against winners last time and from a hopeless position ran on strongly. He’s getting better and stronger and is a nice type of a horse who puts up good work. Captain’s Causeway won his maiden well on the sand. He’s the right type of horse for this race, but is a little behind where he should be for a race like this and is drawn badly, but we’re taking our chances.

“On work my stable elect would definitely be Malak El Moolook, although Escape Route’s got a bit of class, so has Captain’s Causeway and Rikitikitana’s last run was very impressive. But they are all under pressure to get near Rabada.”

He runs Halve The Deficit and Willow Magic in the Gr 1 Champions Cup and said, “It is a tough race. Halve The Deficit came out of the July well and I would say he’s in as good shape for this race if not better. I don’t think he will have any problem with the course and distance and he’s got a good draw. Willow Magic will obviously be stretched by the 1800 but at the same time he’s shown that the 1200m is a bit on the sharp side now. He’s only run twice over a mile and won the Dingaans and finished second to Legislate. He was nice and relaxed in the Mercury Sprint, maybe too relaxed, but maybe it served as a gallop for this weekend. Let’s hope he’s as relaxed in this race.”

The yard run Amber Orchid and Enchanted Silk in the Gr 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m. Tarry said, “Amber Orchid has a touch of class and I think she can be competitive. She has it all to do but we’ve sidestepped a few races just to aim at this one. She went through a stage where she lost her form, but recently she’s been very honest. Enchanted Silk is out at the weights and it’s a week after her last run, but we’re taking our chances. She’s a difficult filly and in retrospect it was a mistake to put a new rider on last time for the first time. S’Manga and Raymond (Danielson, who rides) both know her well and are the two guys who have done best on her.”

He runs In Other Words in the second race over 1400m on the poly and said, “She’s probably one of my better runners on the day and has been doing well and is drawn well and course and distance suited. She has to have a very good chance.”

In the third, a Juvenile Plate over 1900m on the turf, he runs Grey’s A Rockin’ and said, “He runs today (Tuesday) and we will have to see how he pulls up.”

In the fourth over 2400m on the turf he runs Golden High and said, “We’re taking a chance over 2400m. The whole family seem to get the trip and he’s disappointed me over less, so if he stays he will have a chance.”

By David Thiselton

Picture: Gold Onyx (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Charles Laird-trained six-year-old Silvano gelding Ice Machine deserves to land a Gr 1 and has a chance of doing so in the Champions Cup over 1800m at at Greyville on Saturday.

He was strongly fancied to win the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m, but had to be scratched after standing on a stone upon arrival at the course. In his next start he made up ground from the back in fine style in the Vodacom Durban July but ran out of steam in the last 100m. He will much prefer the shorter 1800m trip and the draw of nine shouldn’t be a concern as he can be dropped out before using his devastating turn of foot.

Anton Marcus is back aboard, having partnered him to his brilliant win in the IOS Drill Hall Stakes over1400m. Laird said, “He’s doing very well, his prep has gone exceptionally well, I think he’s a massive runner.”

Laird felt his run in the July was “fantastic” considering he had missed his preparation run and had then been confined to walking for nine days. He concluded, “He is now cherry ripe.”

Laird runs the Australian-bred More Than ready filly Big Sugar in the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m and she looks to have a bit to find, although she did finish just 2,5 lengths behind Persian Rug over 1400m at Scottsville in her penultimate start and the latter could be one of the fancied horses in a less than vintage field.

Laird said, “We missed the Gr 1 Golden Slipper on July day because she drew very wide and we always thought the mile should be better. So we just have to take our chances from another wide draw (13). She’s well but it’s a tough ask, I’m hoping she can finish in the money.” Marcus rides.

Laird runs Bold Inspiration in the Listed Darley Arabian over 1600m on the poly. He feels the going and being fitted with special shoes helped him to improve last time to finish second in the Listed Canon Business Centre Handicap over 1600m on the turf on July day. He was raised two points for the win and now has a tough draw. Anton Marcus is compelled to ride the Markus Jooste-owned Night Trip in the race and Stuart Randolph replaces him.

Laird said, “He prefers the poly simply because it’s kinder. He has a very wide draw but is a big, long-striding forward type of horse, so I think he’s a big runner.” Bold Inspiration has had three runs on the poly to date from 1600-2000m for two wins and a second.

Laird runs the speedy Viva La Var in the Listed Umgeni Handicap over 1000m. He lost his unbeaten record last time out in January and hasn’t raced since. Laird said, “He nearly fell on his face in that race and chipped a knee in the process. This is his first run back, we’ve done as much as we can with him and he’s also drawn wide but I didn’t want to miss a run on the poly with him as the tracks are very firm at present. He’s well enough, although he’s not at a hundred percent.”

Viva La Var did not have an operation to remove the knee chip, he was instead left in the box to allow it to calcify, and it seems to have worked. He worked on the poly on Monday and Laird continued, “We gave him a trial gallop and so far he’s come through it fine. He is a runner although there is not much in his favour from his wide draw and returning from a seven month layoff.”

In the first race over 1400m on the poly he runs Temple Rock, who has had two uninspiring 1600m runs since his maiden win over 1600m. He is drawn well in three with a 4kg claimer aboard and Laird said, “He’s been a little disappointing and I’ve put him over 1400m because he’s quite keen and I hope he runs them off their feet. His work is very good and if he reproduces it he will be a runner.”

He runs Team Guys in the Juvenile Plate over 1900, which is contested by nine maidens. He said, “Anton tried to switch him off in behind horses in his last start over 1600m and he just dropped the bit entirely. He’s looking for every inch of 2000m so we will make them gallop this time.”

By David Thiselton

Picture: Ice Machine (Nkosi Hlophe)

Justin Snaith has still not decided whether Horse Of The Year Legislate will take his place in the Gr 1 Champions Cup over 1800m at Greyville on Saturday, although he was bullish about the chances of the probable Horse Of The Year elect Futura. He also has two other Gr 1 runners on the day, including the filly Ash Cloud in the big one, the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m.

Legislate (Liesl King)

Legislate finished third in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint on Saturday and Snaith said, “The race was a bit harder than we expected. I thought we might be able to overcome the draw but he was caught five wide on the turn and then eventually had to go and lead the race. Obviously I never thought I would have Legislate leading the fastest horses in the country, but I think it just shows you what a good horse he is. No one would ever have beaten Captain Of All on the day, but I think he would have been a bit closer.”

Everything Snaith is doing with Legislate at present is aimed at having him at his best for next season’s Gr 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate, so he will be monitoring him over the next few days before deciding whether to run him on Saturday.

Star Chestnut (Nkosi Hlophe)

Futura finished a gallant 2,25 length fourth in the Vodacom Durban July carrying top weight of 60kg and Snaith said, “He is doing very well and under these weight conditions he’s got a much better chance. In the July he had to give 7kg to the winner and to most of the other horses, which is a lot to give over 2200m. I haven’t had much time to get to know him and when I saw him in the parade ring I thought I had him far too big, so I take the blame. He probably would have finished a bit closer if I had stripped him up properly. But it won’t happen again on Saturday and he has come on from the run. Bernard (Fayd’Herbe) has taken the job as stable jockey so from now on in he will be on all of our main horses.”

Futura is drawn six and Legislate five.

Ash Cloud is a former Gr 1 SA Oaks winner and was given ten points for winning the Gr 2 Gold Circle Oaks over 2400m at Scottsville last time out. Snaith said, “She stays two miles so that is the positive, but I thought the handicappers were very quick in the Oaks to punish her when you see Disco Al’s win in the Derby on the same day earned him one point for beating Hot Ticket who was merit rated 112. So any chance that we probably did have in the Gold Cup has been taken away by the handicappers, but it’s her last run, she’s going to stud, so we’ve got absolutely nothing to lose. We just hope the handicappers being harsh on some other horses gives us a chance, but I would have been a lot more confident with a lighter weight.”

Futura (Nkosi Hlophe)

He runs the Horse Chestnut colt Star Chestnut in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m. He stayed on well to finish a 2,05 length eighth in the Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m last time and only one of the horses who was in front of him, Mogok Master, who beat him by 0,65 lengths, takes his place in Saturday’s race. Snaith said, “He was still very green and is much better suited to the mile. Bar one or two horses it’s not the strongest two-year-old field so we’re just taking our chances as there’s nothing for him in the next two months. He’s looking well and he definitely has class, although he’s still a bit immature. The draw is not ideal (12), although it can sometimes work in your favour by giving him a chance and then he will run on well. I give him a bit of a chance.”

Acrostar is also drawn 12 in the Gr 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m, having finished 7,25 lengths back in an ultra strong Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes last time out. Snaith said, “She is better suited to this sort of distance and in the Garden Province she had to drop out to last and ran on strongly at the end, but the race was over. I’m hoping this is a much weaker race and just to get into the first three. She’s had no luck in the Durban season, so we’re just hoping for some sort of black type to add to her aleady good career.”  She will likely be dropped out again as she does have a fine turn of foot and resolute finish.

By David Thiselton