Mike Azzie looks to have two fine prospects in his hands in the two-year-old colts Rabada and Abashiri, but will avoid running them against each other on Vodacom Durban July day. He could also have a big runner in the July itself with Deputy Jud and will be hoping to prove a point with Isphan in next Friday night’s Post Merchants.

Azzie said about his pair of  unbeaten two-year-olds, “Rabada is a special horse. He will be entered in the Golden Horseshoe on July day but will have to draw well to run. We are going to keep Abashiri back for the mile on Gold Cup day.”

Azzie said both horses had come out of their last runs well.

Go Deputy colt Abashiri came from a long way back on debut over 1600m at Greyville and impressed with his long stride in the straight, which saw him sweeping past the bulk of the field. He then found an extra gear late to overtake the more experienced Grey’s A Rockin. Jockey Corné Orffer got off and described him as the best two-year-old he had sat on so far this season and he certainly looks to have plenty of scope for improvement.

The Brave Tin Soldier colt Rabada looked to be full of class when winning the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes over 1400m at Greyville on Saturday by 3,25 lengths, having won on debut over the same trip at Turffontein by 4,75 lengths. Anton Marcus said he had displayed plenty of signs of inexperience in that last win and predicted he would be even better as a three-year-old.

Azzie’s big Judpot colt Deputy Jud produced a sustained finishing effort in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 from a handy position and appeared to be finding top gear when he was taken out by MLJet, who suddenly shifted to the left. Deputy Jud could easily have run in the first three, but instead was eased right out of it, so his ten length eighth is not a true reflection at all. Azzie said the yard were taking it “day by day” in preparing the big chestnut for the July and said, “He has things we have to work around, but he is doing well and looking good.”

Meanwhile a new acquisition to the yard, Amsterdam, will be given a break until next season after running downfield in both the SA Derby and Daily News 2000. Azzie said, “We will aim him at races like the Summer Cup and J&B Met. He needs time to mature and furnish before he develops into the horse we expect him to be.”

The three-year-old Tiger Ridge gelding Isphan was left out of the recent Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint, despite being merit rated higher than some of the other contestants, and Azzie will be hoping that his run in next Friday’s Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m at Greyville will prove that he should have been given a chance. He ran the prolific winner Trip Tease to 0,3 lengths over 1000m in his penultimate start and then ran a decent fifth in the Gr 1 Computaformm Sprint over 1000m, beating the like of Post Merchants contenders Willow Magic, Tevez and Normanz. He has won over 1450m before, so should relish stepping up from 1000 to 1200m.

Azzie concluded by saying that his entire Champions Season string were doing well at Summerveld.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Rabada (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Gavin van Zyl-trained five-year-old Kahal gelding No Worries was scratched from the Vodacom Durban July on Tuesday after a below par run in the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge, but could still be on track to defend his KZN Breeders Million Mile crown at Greyville on June 28.

However, Van Zyl will still have a strong line up for July day, which includes Redcarpet Captain in the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe, Banbury in the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes, Heart Of A Lion in the Gr 2 Gold Vase, MLJet in the Listed Thukela Handicap and possibly Vino Veritas in the Gr 3 Campanajo.

Van Zyl said, “No Worries’ blood reading has indicated he is incubating a low grade virus and we didn’t feel his last run warranted him taking his chances in the July. However, if he recovers in time we will run him in the KZN Breeders Million Mile and depending on how he does there he will take his chances in the Gr 1 Champions Cup (Greyville July 25 over 2000m).”

No Worries went into last year’s Million Mile very well weighted carrying 54kg, as he was only a two-time winner at that stage, and he duly won by a comfortable 3,25 lengths. However, this year he will have a much harder task as he is now a four-time winner and will also accrue a 2kg penalty for a Gr 2 win in the last 18 months, having won the Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m last October.

Redcarpet Captain ran a fine second to the top class sort Seventh Plain in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion over 1200m on May 23. The classy Captain Al colt showed the ability to both relax in the running and accelerate smartly in his victorious debut over 1000m at Turffontein and followed up by winning the Gr 3 Englezakis Protea Stakes over 1100m at the same course. His well-being was below par when fourth in the Gr 1 SA Nursery and that report was substantiated by his excellent Medallion run. Van Zyl believes Redcarpet Captain will love the step up to 1400m. He will have to make up 2,75 lengths on Seventh Plain, which will be no easy task considering the latter didn’t look to be stopping at the end of the Medallion, and there are also other horses like Rabada that have put up their hands since then. However, he should make a bold bid.

The four-year-old Seul Amour gelding Heart Of A Lion has run one of the most eyecatching Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup trials to date. He weaved his way through from the back of the field to finish a 1,75 length third in the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m. He was only merit rated 95 for that race but was giving 1kg to the winner Solid Speed, who is being touted as a top Gold Cup candidate. The handicapper has kept him on 95, meaning he will need to run a big race in the Gold Vase to book his Gold Cup place. Van Zyl said he had come out of that last race well.

The yard have identified and sorted out a problem with Banbury so believe she will be a lot better in the Garden Province than she was in the Gr 2 Tibouchina over 1400m last time out, when finishing 7,5 lengths behind Hammie’s Hooker. Van Zyl has no illusions about the strength of the field she will face in the Garden Province, but believed that at her best she would be up to it.

Van Zyl was very pleased with MLJet’s first outing for the yard in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and said, “It was a pleasing race with first time blinkers. He didn’t quite stay the trip and 1600m will be much more down his alley so the Thukela will be the perfect race for him. The Daily News would have brought him spot on for that race.”

Vino Veritas is an ever improving four-year-old filly by Silvano, who has won five times including three of her last five starts. The yard will see how she goes in the Gr 2 Gold Circle Oaks over 2400m on June 21 before possibly running her in the Campanajo over 2200m. Two of her wins have been over the tough Turffontein 2200m and on pedigree she should enjoy the Oaks trip.

By David Thiselton

Picture: No Worries (Nkosi Hlophe)

Vodacom Durban July favourite Futura has been eased from 3-1 to 33-10 despite his eye-catching run behind stable companion Legislate in last Saturday’s Rising Sun Gold Challenge.

But Betting World has shortened Mike De Kock’s star filly Majmu from 5-1 and 4-1 as South Africa’s biggest bookmaker has digested the implications of the published weights for the great race –  and this despite the Cape Fillies Guineas winner being allotted 55kg, significantly more than any of the other three-year-olds.

Last year’s first-past-the-post Wylie Hall has been marked out from 6-1 to 7-1, the same price as Legal Eagle, but The Conglomerate continues to attract support and has been cut from 10-1 to 8-1.

Stan Elley’s Cup Trial winner Punta Arenas is the big mover, being slashed from 50-1 to 20-1, but the same trainer’s Betting World 1900 winner Dynastic Power has gone out from 25-1 to 55-1 after disappointing in last Saturday’s race.

Betting World’s leading prices: 33-10 Futura, 4-1 Majmu, 7-1 Legal Eagle, Wylie Hall, 8-1 The Conglomerate, 10-1 Ertijaal, French Navy, 20-1 and upwards others.

Hollywoodbets has the top horses slightly shorter and goes 3.03 Futura, 3.57 Majmu, 6.67 Legal Eagle and Wylie Hall.

Betting World has yet to open its book on the jockeys championship but S’Manga Khumalo was as short as 7-10 with Hollywoodbets going into yesterday’s Scottsville meeting on 164 winners, a lead of three over 11-10 second favourite Gavin Lerena.  Anthony Delpech (138) was a 10-1 chance and 33-1 shot Greg Cheyne (142) the only other priced below 50-1.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Majmu (JC Photo)

Blarney Bay, who won four races out of five in a constantly-improving 100 day spell last year, reappears after a six month absence in the Racing. It’s A Rush Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Mike Robinson said yesterday: “He hadn’t had a holiday for two or three years and the owners wanted to give him a break over the summer season before bringing bring him back for the winter, so we sent him to the farm.

“The handicapper has pretty much caught up with him now so we will just take it race by race and see how he goes but I think the break has done him good. He has come back fresh and happy.”

The six-year-old will again be ridden by Xavier Carstens who has won twice on him but the race has attracted some hot competition including the 2013 Winter Guineas and Winter Classic winner Readytogorightnow, the Geoff Woodruff-trained Lockheed Jetstar and Castlethorpe.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Michael Robinson

The Sean Tarry-trained Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge runner up Willow Magic is one of the best weighted runners in the Gr 2 Post Merchants, which will be run over 1200m at Greyville next Friday night.

The former Gr 1 SA Nursery (1160m) and Gr 2 Investec Dingaans (1600m) winner has lost some of his speed and is probably better over extended distances these days, but he did record an excellent time over 1000m in his comeback from a 14 month layoff in January and in his penultimate start he finished a decent fifth in the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint over 1200m. He will be freshened up for this race and his class could carry him close from a fair draw of seven under Piere Strydom.

The weights for the race were set before the Gold Challenge, for which he received a four point raise, so he carries 56kg instead of the 58kg he should be carrying off his 107 merit rating.

His three-year-old stablemate Bichette was favourably drawn when running fourth in the Tsogo Sun Sprint and has landed another good draw here of six. The weight conditions favour fillies, as they receive a 2,5kg allowance, and she will be ridden by champion jockey S’Manga Khumalo.

The Charles Laird-trained Normanz has landed a plum draw of five and his early speed coupled with his resolute finish will make him a huge runner under Anton Marcus. He is officially not very well treated at the weights, but won the Gr 1 Golden Horse Casino (Tsogo Sun) Sprint last season and this can’t be considered as tough a task.

Aurum Pot’s defeat of Sheik’s Brashee over 1160m in his penultimate start now reads well as the latter went on to finish third in the Tsogo Sun Sprint. Aurum Pot is drawn well in three and this speedy sort has to be considered from draw three for the in form Alec Laird yard.

In form Mike Azzie will be out to prove a point with Isphan, who was left out of the Tsogo Sun Sprint despite his 104 merit rating having been higher than one or two that were included. He ran the prolific winner Trip Tease to 0,3 lengths over 1000m in his penultimate start and then ran a decent fifth in the Gr 1 Computaformm Sprint over 1000m, beating the like of Willow Magic and Tevez. He is drawn fairly well in eight and championship chasing Gavin Lerena is aboard.

Daring Dave didn’t enjoy the best preparation going into the Tsogo Sun Sprint but ran a fair race. His trainer Justin Snaith won this race last year and he is drawn well over a suitable trip.

Brutal Force is drawn 13 but the early pace and resolute finish of this strong horse could see him in the shake up. Nothing went right for him in the Tsogo Sun Sprint but otherwise he would likely have confirmed that he had improved with gelding.

Tevez is known for his exceptional turn of foot from off the pace, which makes him ideally suited to Greyville. He finished a 1,85 length fourth in this race last year with joint topweight, but this year is sole topweight and faces a better field, although he is drawn two as opposed to nine last year.

Moofeed is an ultra consistent type and this is an ideal trip. He has a tough draw of 14 but is capable of a strong late run.

Kingston Boy has a fine turn of foot and ran second in this race last year from pole position, but he is now four points higher in the merit ratings and drawn wide in 15.

Sheik’s Brashee remained on a 103 merit rating despite his Tsogo Sun run, but Scottsville is his best track and he has to contend with the widest draw of 16.

Royal Zulu Warrior won over course and distance in March in a Pinnacle Stakes event but has a harder task here in a handicap and he is getting a bit long in the tooth.

Showmetheway benefitted from a change to hold up tactics last season and ran third in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint, so having run a two length sixth in this race last season he can’t be discounted despite being ten points higher in the merit ratings and drawn a tough 12.

Diamond King faces a tough task at the weights on official merit ratings but has never fulfilled his considerable potential and could surprise.

Equity Kicker is another who might prove better than his current merit rating suggests and he could also be a dark horse.

Royalsecuritypower is largely kept to 1000m these days but has won over course and distance before. He is drawn in pole but has never faced a field as strong as this before.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Willow Magic (Nkosi Hlophe)