Mike Azzie trains Panjo
Trainer Mike Azzie is always a serious factor on the Vaal sand and has only one runner at the Vaal today in the hardknocking Tiger Ridge gelding, Panjo. The Mauritzfontein bred 5yo lumbers top weight in a competitive MR 88 Handicap over 1450m and with top apprentice Ryan Munger up, he should go close
The eight race Vaal meeting sees the topliner launching the Place Accumulator with average sized fields possibly proving deceptive for exotic players.
The Azzie yard have upped their strike rate dramatically in the past week with 3 winners from 9 runners in the period 9 October to 14 October. There has been the odd disappointment – the worst of which was probably the 18 t0 10 favourite Avenue at the Vaal last Tuesday.
Talented
Talented Ryan Munger rides Panjo
But in a small field, the top-rated Panjo will enjoy the service of talented 19yo apprentice Ryan Munger, who leads the SA Champion apprentice log.
Munger’s allowance takes 1,5kgs off Panjo’s back and brings him into the reckoning after an 8 length third to Raise The Red over the course and distance last time out.
That was a fair run (although it looks dismal on paper) as Panjo was found to be not striding out and his previous run can probably be ignored as he lost a shoe.
He meets Vulcan who ran 3,25 lengths ahead of him on 1,5kgs better terms and if Panjo arrives sound and fit, there should be little to choose between the two.
Consistent
Scott Kenny’s Kahal gelding Vulcan has the rails draw and is in front of the consistency queue.
Vucan is a six-time winner from his 25 starts and impressed on the turf at his penultimate run when giving the classy Meissa a half kilo and running him to a length.
It won’t be east though and all of the balance of the five runners have some form to recommend them.
Has Scope
The Trippi gelding Solar Triptych is the only one-time winner in the field and surely the runner with the most scope for progression.
Alec Laird’s charge won at the second time of asking when belting home over the Turffontein turf 1160m.
He is very lightly raced and showed up handily last time at his first try on sand when going down 3,75 lengths to Devon Gold.
He was reported coughing and will still be on his way to peak fitness, as he has just his second run in four months.
Approval Rating
Estancia improved marginally in the blinkers last time when staying on for second behind Augustinus over a mile.
The Right Approach gelding has not win in a year and he looks likely as a back end of the quartet prospect at best.
The Tyrone Zackey-trained Son Of Approval steps up in class and comes in with a handy galloping 52 kgs.
The son of Miesque’s Approval ran on well despite being hampered last time and registered a good win over Die Kat in an MR 71 Handicap. He drops in distance and rises in class, and is a difficult fellow to assess.
Peter Duo
Paul Peter’s Arctic Hooligan seldom runs a bad race and was just touched off by Park Ridge last time.
He was reported to have made a respiratory noise when running on strongly and will appreciate the extra ground here.
Peter also saddles Judgeandjury, who finished 0,75 lengths behind Solar Triptych last time. He meets the Laird galloper on the same terms, but needs to show that he can step up.
Handicap
As can be expected from a middle of the road handicap, the race is wide open and could come down to wellbeing and fitness on the day.
We are leaning towards Vulcan and Panjo fighting things out. It should be safe to banker either in the PA.
