Brazuca holds them off
THE Sansui Summer Cup picture took on a different complexion after Saturday’s meeting at Turffontein. Three horses, in particular, must have pleased their respective trainers – Brazuca, Abashiri and Banner Hill.
They finished first, second and third respectively in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1 600m on the Turffontein Inside track and you could virtually hear the respective trainers say “and now for the Summer Cup”.
Abashiri’
The bookmakers were also impressed by Abashiri’s performance and have priced him up 5-1 favourite for the Cup.
That spectacle takes place over 2 000m on the Turffontein Standside track on Saturday 25 November and all three will be better suited to the course and distance.
Donavan Mansour rode Brazuca this time and wasted no time in taking his mount to the head of affairs.
“I thought he might want to go if there was no pace and I said before the race that it was stupid to fight him and the best thing to do was let him run his own race,” said Mansour.
“He needed the run so if he faded late it was not going to be too much of a concern.”
He did exactly the opposite and kicked nicely in the straight to easily hold off the opposition and win by 1.70 lengths.
Janse van Vuuren said he would look at the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile as Brazuca’s next run but a lot will depend on where he is drawn.
It is worth noting that Mansour has ridden Brazuca four times for three wins and a second. The runner-up race was on debut and was over 1 000m where he finished second to Isca.
There is no doubt Mansour has a great rapport with the Australian-bred son of Teofilo.
Last week Adam Azzie said Abashiri was in desperate need of a run and they just wanted him to see a racecourse again.
There were no expectations at all, a comment which the younger Azzie reiterated again on Saturday.
“If he finishes within five lengths of the winner we will be over the moon,” he said.
But champions don’t like to lose and we saw that desire in Abashiri on Saturday.
Left to race near the rear of the field by Karl Zechner, Abashiri got just one smack and that got him going.
He started to charge up on outside but lack of fitness probably caught him out.
“It was a fantastic comeback,” said Mike Azzie.
“I didn’t want him under pressure and we had no expectations but he just blew us out of the water.
“This run was way better than what we expected.
“He ate up well, his legs were ice cold – everything just worked out perfectly.”
Azzie senior
Azzie senior added that the Inside track was not right for Abashiri, but they wanted him to have a run and had few other options.
“It left us between a rock and a hard place so we thought, let’s put him in and let him have fun.
“He used to get all worked up on the racecourse but on Saturday he was dead calm.
His ears were pricked, he was so relaxed and just looking at everything around him.
“When he got his saddle on he stomped around and walked around the parade ring like he dominated it.
“He knew he was on the racetrack again,” said Azzie.
His next run will be in the Victory Moon Handicap next month.
Banner Hill
Banner Hill had his first run for Geoff Woodruff and the trainer must have been delighted with the fact his charge was just beaten 1.80 lengths over a course and distance that would not suit him.
Woodruff has won the last four Summer Cups and will feel comfortable a runner like Banner Hill is capable of making it five in a row.
- TABonline