Abashiri will jump, Greyville won’t be a problem says Azzie

Jack Milner

Trainer Mike Azzie disagrees with jockey Piere Strydom that No 2 is not a good draw for Abashiri in Saturday’s Vodacom Durban July over 2200m at Greyville.

Strydom has suggested the 2016 Triple Crown winner does not have much gate speed and could get squeezed out at the start as the field comes in jostling for positions. Azzie, however, believes his charge does have the necessary early speed to hold his position on the fence.

“Piere rode him in his last race which was a Pinnacle Stakes over 1400m. The problem is that they loaded him first which is a disaster. He started kicking the back of the gates

“If they load him later and he is not left standing for ages he will jump on terms.”

Azzie also pointed out Greyville will be no problem for Abashiri.

“He made his debut at Greyville as a two-year-old over 1600m and won that easily. His second start was on the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes, again over 1600m, and he ran a 0.30-length third behind Rabada.

“He has no problem with the track.” Azzie added that when Abashiri ran in the Durban July in 2016 he had to carry 59.5kg, the highest weight a three-yearold had ever been burdened with in that race. “Everybody knows I didn’t want to run him in that race because he had won the Triple Crown and had a hard season. Everything was against him and he was only beaten 4.70 lengths. He also pulled up with an injury.

“He is now two years older and will carry 1kg less. I’ve never had this horse so well and he is in a good space right now.

“You could say I’m a very happy man,” said Azzie.