Rabada – very progressive sort
It takes a top 2yo to win the R600 000 Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes and Mike Azzie’s unbeaten Gatecrasher Stakes winner Rabada fits the profile. He looks an exciting sort and stands out in an otherwise competitive race.
The Azzie yard has enjoyed a season of mixed fortunes with some high points punctuated with disappointing performances from some of their runners.
The Brave Tin Soldier colt, Rabada, looks to have victory in his reach to put the cherry on top and give the Azzie Team a rousing 2015 KZN Champions Season send off.
Unbeaten in two starts in two different provinces with an aggregate 8 length winning margin, this Summerhill Stud product looks an exciting racehorse all round. He jumps from a good draw with Anton Marcus in the irons again and his credentials appear to outstrip those of his 15 opponents.
Smart Win
That said, his stablemate Abashiri won a cracker on debut in the holiday province and the engagement of Anthony Delpech, coupled with his 2 draw is bound to see plenty of support.
Abashiri won well on debut
Another runner who is bound to attract plenty of attention is the Dominic Zaki Toreador gelding, Prospect Strike, a winner of two of his starts to date. Speaking of aggregate winning distances, this fellow boasts a total of over 16 winning length margin at his two victories.
He ran a very creditable third behind Seventh Plain in the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion at Scottsville and looks likely to relish the extra 200m after jumping at a prohibitive 1-5 last time over the Turffontein 1400m.
KZN trainer Dennis Bosch will be grinding his teeth after his recent KZN Yearling Sale Million winner Cutting Edge pulled a terrible draw of 15. The son of A P Answer showed good courage in winning the well endowed restricted race o register his second win from four starts.
Tarry Quartet
New SA champion trainer Sean Tarry – saddles a four-way coupling
Sean Tarry saddles a four way coupling and based on jockey engagements, S’manga Khumalo’s mount Malak El Moolook is probably the stable elect.
A beaten favourite on the Greyville polytrack 1200m last time, this improving colt will definitely prefer the mile.
His stablemate Rikitikitana is the only maiden in the race, but was pencilled in our notebook last time, after flying up from nowhere for a 1.5 length 4th to Cutting Edge in the KZN Yearling Sale Million.
Sadly he has drawn wide again, but a repeat of the run could see him rattling cages late in the race.
Tarry also saddles the Vaal Sand debut winner, Captain’s Causeway.
The son of Captain Al is drawn wide and is a very difficult horse to assess as he steps into Gr1 company for the first time. His stablemate Escape Route is drawn best of the Tarry runners but disappointed in the Gr1 Golden Horseshoe when slow away and baulked.
In the circumstances his 5,8 lengths finish off Seventh Plain may not have been the worst of efforts.
Justin Snaith’s Horse Chestnut colt, Star Chestnut, is another who was slightly disappointing in the Golden Horseshoe.
In the firing line into the final 300m, he appeared to tire late and was beaten 2 lengths into 8th place. He has not been blessed with a favourable draw and will have to up his game to beat the Gauteng visitors.
Strike Master
Piere Strydom rides Mogok Master for Paul Peter and his run in the Golden Horseshoe may bear some analysis.
He jumped from a 16 draw there and was beaten only 1.4 lengths by Seventh Plain. That was an eyecatching effort for a horse largely limited to sprinting prior to that.
While technically held by Rabada on his Gatecrasher Stakes run, the booking of Piere Strydom and his cherry 3 draw suggests that Mogok Master may warrant inclusion.
Mike Bass saddles Jet Air
The Mike Bass-trained Jet Air recorded his second win from 5 starts last time over the Scottsville mile, after failing in feature company in his two previous starts. He looks to have some ground to make up.
The interestingly named recent maiden winner Singh Is King is a surprise inclusion in this field. He started at 50/1 on debut and beat a modest field by a runaway four lengths. The son of Noordhoek Flyer could really be just about anything.
Lucky Houdalakis sends out the recent Scottsville maiden winner Nephrite, a grey son of Right Approach.
This chap won in a workmanlike manner, while beating little of note.
It looks tough for the rest, with Roman Calamity and High Game just outside hopes at best.
Azzie
In a race where Mike Azzie could dominate, Rabada is a confident choice to beat Abashiri, with Mogok Master and Prospect Strike the likely closest challengers.
A surprise looks unlikely.
