Azzie team achieve first-year goals, and a Grade 1 victory
Jack Milner
It’s is exactly one year since Adam Azzie and his father, Mike, teamed up as single training unit and at the time they set a series of goals for the season.
The first was to finish in the top 10 on the trainers’ log. They finished in 10th spot. The second was to earn at least R8 million. Their runners earned R8,646,725.
Thirdly they wanted to win as many feature races as possible and although they knew it would be harder, to get at least one Grade 1 winner. They ended up with six graded wins and many places in feature races but they had to wait for the second last Grade 1 race of the season for the Azzies to chalk up their first Grade 1 win.
It came in the Mercury Sprint at Greyville on Saturday courtesy of aptly named Will Pays. Ridden by Craig Zackey, thise son of Imperial Stride who turned seven today, burst through down the inside rail to beat Attenborough.
The irony of Will Pays winning is that was one horse who was trained specifically by Adam. “When Will Pays joined us we gave him a two-month break when we worked on his back which is something we have maintained throughout his career,” said Adam.
“My dad was just about to take the string to Durban for the season and we decided to keep Will Pays in Joburg. He did well for me with my dad away so he became my responsibility. But as much as my dad says I train the horse I have always taken his advice about where to place him.”
In fact, after his third behind Perovskia in the Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes, Adam decided to rest Will Pays but on the drive back from Durban they discussed which horses to run at Greyville on Super Saturday. “When we came to the Mercury Sprint my dad said ‘enter him’. “When we saw the field we thought it was a huge mistake not to run Will Pays in that field.”
Adam spoke to joint owner Brett Pepper and explained the extra cost of supplementing the horse. “But he has quite happy and told me if he gets a draw, then he is happy to go for it.”
He drew No 4 and the connections were all smiles.
“As they turned into the straight I started shouting ‘bring me my first Group 1’.
“I’m still buzzing about it,” said Adam.
Will Pays will have a much deserved rest and will be aimed at the Hawaii Stakes again. “I still think he will go 1600m and maybe we can look at the Horse Chestnut
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next year.”
But the race in Gauteng Adam would really love to win is the SA Classic. “That has to be the most prestigious three-year-old race in Joburg to win,” he said.