The R250 000 Gr3 Politician Stakes is an ideal Cape Derby Trial but with the big 3yo classic moved forward a week in terms of a programme reshuffle, it now comes only a fortnight before the 3yo classic test. Mike Azzie will be keen to get the smart Rabada’s season on the road.
Racing Manager Derek Brugman issued a cautionary announcement on Thursday following the colt’s late arrival in Cape Town.
Rabada – travel issues
A lovely son of Brave Tin Soldier, Rabada won the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes over 1 600m at Greyville at the beginning of August and may have needed the run when second to Champagne Haze on his return in the CTS Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup at Turffontein three months later.
That form was not franked when the Alexander runner went missing in a small field 3yo handicap on Saturday, when fifth of six runners and failing to quicken. There were excuses and we can hardly use that as a yardstick of the Azzie runner.
But the fact remains that Rabada was scratched from the Grand Parade Cape Guineas after failing to impress in work.
Mike Azzie
Azzie said at the time: “He was a little distressed afterwards so we took a blood test. The picture wasn’t too bad but we would have been taking on Silver Mountain who I think is something special and I don’t want to go down to Cape Town if I am not happy with the horse.”
So the simple fact is that Rabada has had to travel to a strange first time left-handed track, with a ten week break from racing action.
He is, however, patently the proven class act in a field where only a few genuine stand out as classic hopefuls.
Rabada carries 62kgs as topweight, and this includes a 2kg penalty for his Gr1 victory. The weights in this event are set on a sliding scale with MR 100 plus runners carrying 60kg, 95 – 99 rated carrying 58.5 kgs, 90 – 94 carrying 57 kgs, 85 – 89 lumping 55.5 kg and 84 and below just 54kgs.
On a big day for the Snaiths, the leading yard saddle a foursome and while his rating may not yet indicate so, Black Arthur may be the best of the four.
Piere Strydom – rides Black Arthur
Piere Strydom rates the son of Silvano who has won 2 of his 3 outings with some authority and is being spoken about as something special.
He tries the 1800m for the first time, but gives every indication that he will enjoy it.
Star Chestnut finished 4,40 lengths back in the Cape Guineas and was well beaten by Rabada when they met at level weights on Super Satuday. Star Chestnut has home advantage and gets 3,5kgs from the Azzie star.
Baritone won three on the trot before going unplaced in the Cape Classic and the Guineas. He was 2,20 lengths in front of Baritone and gets 1,5kgs from his stablemate – which gives him the edge.
The Aussie bred More Than Grand is the fourth of the Snaith runners and won a lowly rated handicap after a dry spell. He has plenty to do.
Sean Tarry-trained Liege has not quite clicked in the Cape in two outings and needs to start getting his act together.
Dean Kannemeyer’s Cape Speed won two on the trot, including his first run as a 3yo, before running disappointingly last time when fading against the older Milton.
He is a difficult fellow to assess and has been brought on in typical Kannemeyer style.
Mooghamir – progressive and has track experience
Mike De Kock has an exciting Australian-bred son of Galileo on his hands in Mooghamir, who won his prep opener in good style last time. He has won 2 from 3 and while beaten nothing to date, looks an ideal Derby type and may have the class to win this.
Nebula is a half kilo better off for a one length beating by Mooghamir and only beat the battling professional maiden Exclusive Knight at his penultimate outing.
Solar Night has been beaten three times in handicap company after shedding his maiden and has a 14 draw to contend with.
Tin Soldier represents the Mike Bass yard and is a recent maiden winner.
We are going with the Azzie touch and suggest that Rabada may be good enough to get back to winning ways.
He is the selection to beat Mooghamir and Baritone.
