Mike Azzie returns with the top-class Var gelding Rivarine to defend his 2016 Gr3 Lebelo Sprint title at Turffontein today. The smart speedster has not been in the best of form lately, but must have a decent chance in this line-up.
Rivarine carried only 53,5kgs in this handicap in 2016 when beating Queen Laurie and this time round carries 58kgs. Gavin Lerena takes the reins on Saturday and could inject some life back into the 4yo, whose last win was a Pinnacle Plate in June. Rivarine finished 5,50 lengths behind The Thinker in the Merchants on Summer Cup Day but meets the Van Vuuren speedster on a 4,5kgs turnaround. That will assist him.
Lyle Hewitson and Rivarine leave them trailing as they grab the Lebelo Sprint in 2016 (Pic – JC Photos)
His stablemate Splendid Garden has been battling for ages to register his sixth win and does not look to have the form to win a race of this nature.
Mike de Kock sends out the Australian-bred 3yo pair of Mujallad and Alfolk. Both have shown good promise and the stakes placed Mujallad would only have to find his better earlier form off his handy 52kg galloping weight to win this.
Alfolk – showed well in Golden Loom
His stablemate Alfolk has excellent course and distance form and came within a heartbeat of winning the Golden Loom Handicap at his last start. Both the De Kock pair can be included.
The 6yo topweight Talktothestars ran a cracking second behind London Calling last Sunday at Scottsville and will strip a fit horse in the hands of Piere Strydom. The Gr1 winning son of Overlord has not won a race since October 2016 but was on the heels of the placed horses in the Merchants won by The Thinker, and meets the winner on 3,5kgs better terms.
The Thinker wins the Merchants – has more to do
The Thinker has won 5 of his 11 starts and caught the eye with a spectacular Merchants win at his last start.The son of Visionaire has not escaped the handicapper’s attention and he needs to show he is as good as the experts suggest he is.This lightly raced galloper could be equal to the task.
The third of the Azzie trio is Angel’s Power who ran a poor race in the Gr2 Merchants but came out to chase the well-performed Kangaroo Jack home in a PInnacle Plate last time out. That was a better showing.
Sean Tarry – better from Donny G last time
Sean Tarry’s Donny G ran a much better race again last Saturday when chasing surprise winner Pure Blonde home at Turffontein and that looks to be a perfect launch pad into a winning bid here. He will be ridden by the in-form Lyle Hewitson.
Paul Peter’s African Ruler looks to have lost his pace and honest consistent form of earlier. He was hampered in the Merchants when running some 12,50 lengths back and has not won a race in 15 months. He was also well beaten in this same race last year.
It is difficult getting too excited about any of the others and we are siding with Rivarine to make it a double at the expense of the De Kock pair of Mujallad and Alfolk.
The Thinker has to carry more pudding but he looks very talented, while Talktothestars is a trojan and can never be left out.
