Azincourt could follow up today
The Cape raiders struck an early blow when clinching four of the six Scottsville features last Sunday. Brett Crawford and Corne Orffer were one of the successful combinations when Gulf Storm scored a sensational win in the Listed In Full Flight Handicap and they could follow up in today’s topliner at the same venue.
But the talented topweighted Sail South will have to beat another Capetonian in Joey Ramsden’s Count Dubois gelding Azincourt, to win the MR 95 Handicap over the straight 1200m.
The goodlooking Azincourt comes out on top of our SP ratings after a meritorious KZN winning debut in mid-April where he beat the highly vaunted Space Launch over Wednesday’s course and distance.
Ramsden Challenger
Azincourt won that MR 80 Handicap beating the lightly raced Space Launch by a length and meets the Drier runner on the same terms.
That was his first win in over fifteen months but the 4yo appears to enjoy the 1200m and has strengthened and matured as a late 4yo.
S’manga Khumalo takes over the riding duties from Grant Van Niekerk.
Rocket
Trainer Dennis Drier – saddles Space Launch
Dennis Drier’s Space Launch has won 2 of his 4 starts and the son of Jet Master is something of a talking horse who is said to have top division. He was cruising at his last start but was convincingly overtaken and beaten by Azincourt and could be held again.
His stablemate Captain On The Run has his soundness issues and had only one run during his Cape summer campaign – an unplaced effort behind Equity Kicker on L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate day.
He is a classy sort who won 4 of his first 8 starts and was considered good enough by his astute trainer to take his chances in a tough test like the Gr2 Selangor Cup.
He will have to be taken on trust after his sixteen weeks break and the betting may be the best guide.
In The Cruise
Brett Crawford is in form and Sail South warrants consideration
The Brett Crawford trained Sail South is an interesting runner.
He has been rested ten weeks since going unplaced behind Ze Kaiser in the Cape Mile, but is much better over slightly less ground and could bounce back fresh.
He had two runs at Scottsville last season – an unplaced effort in the Gr3 Byerley Turk and then winning an MR 93 Handicap over 1400m beating the decent Exelero, who has since won at Graduation level at Turffontein.
Sail South boasts a comprehensive walloping of Sunday’s Listed The Sledgehammer winner Solar Star a few runs back and a repeat of that form could see him go close here.
Veteran
Wendy Whitehead’s 6yo Island Fiesta knows every blade of grass on this track and the son of Miesque’s Approval has not been far off the action recently.
He ran on well when four lengths behind Barbosa in a higher rated handicap last time and could be a nice lurker for the exotics if he comes racing in the mood.
Young Ones
The Argonaut 3yo Theseus has won his only 2 starts (from 7) over the course and distance but steps up in class here after beating Gunfighter very easily at his last start.
The Riverton Stud-bred gelding could be capable of making more improvement and should be included in the quartets.
Another 3yo is the Australian-bred Highway Explorer who was outclassed when out of the money at his last start in the Gr3 Byerley Turk.
He is another two-time winning course and distance veteran and gets the blinkers back on again.
The blinkers appeared to improve Piano Man who ran a decent fourth behind the quality sprinter Muscatt last Tuesday.
He goes 200m further but has not won in ages.
Double Bid
Azincourt could improve further with the first KZN run under the belt and looks ready to register a double.
He is the choice to beat another raider in Sail South, with Space Launch thereabouts in a competitive sprint match.
