Rjvarine (Devin Habib) is led in by Team Azzie (Pic -JC Photos)
Mike and Adam Azzie’s Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner Rivarine will definitely be raiding Durban on Gold Cup day to take part in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m.
Mike said one of the keys to fulfilling the potential they always knew the now six-year-old Var gelding always had was that jockey Devin Habib had listened to their instruction of holding him up.
David Thiselton writes that the yard had also got on top of some of his small niggles and Azzie said this had allowed them to “reach the bottom of him again.”
With his hold up and fast-finishing style he should be suited to running around the turn in the Mercury Sprint.
In fact as a juvenile he won over the Hollywoodbets Greyville course and distance in fine style, beating the subsequent Grade 1 winner Gunner among others.
Rivarine is out of the Gr1 J&B Met winner River Jetez, who is a full-sister to the great Pocket Power.
Rivarine’s full-sister Delta Queen will be attempting to make it two Grade 1 wins in successive weekends for the Var and River Jetez union as she runs in the Allan Robertson on Saturday. Both siblings were bred by Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm and Cedric and Barbara Amm, who raced the mare.
- Gold Circle
