Will Pays’ Heritage hopes
ADJUSTED. INCREASED WEIGHT COULD SEE HIM WITHDRAWN FROM BIG VAAL RACE Stable still favours Arctica.
Will Pays’ weight has been adjusted up to 67kg for the R750,000 World Sports Betting Grand Heritage over 1475m at the Vaal on Saturday 30 September.
He was given 64.5kg when first weights were published on 10 August, a week after winning the Spring Spree Stakes at Turffontein. The six-year-old has not run since so the big hike in the weights is surprising and trainer Adam Azzie has suggested he will not run because of it.
Azzie, who trains in partnership with his father Mike, has four other horses on the list of entries. Two will definitely run if they receive invitations, Arctica with 60.5kg and Trading Profit, who is set to carry 54.5kg.
“Arctica is a quality horse who has gone up nine points without winning - he’s been penalised for his consistency, which is not necessarily fair,” said Azzie. “That said, the horse is very well and Piere Strydom, who will be riding him, thinks he can get the best out of him even with that weight.
“It took us quite a while to get to know and understand Trading Profit when he came to us last year and he fell down the ladder in the ratings. We’ve now got to a point where he’s competitive (winning his last three races) and he’s gaining confidence with each win. He’s been training well, his prep’s been great and if he continues in this frame of mind, he’ll be a competitive runner.
“I still think at this stage Arctica is our stable elect, but you need a lot of luck in this type of race.
The race is a unique spectacle for South African racegoers, with a field of 28 horses charging down the long Vaal straight.
The horses invited to participate in the race come from three tiers of merit ratings, 57kg and above, 53-56.5kg and 50-52.5kg, and each of the horses taking part will have to run at least once from the date of first nominations, 7 August. From that date to final acceptances on 20 September, the handicappers can adjust the published weights in accordance with the horses’ merit ratings.
There is another opportunity for horses to be entered, next Monday 18 September. The final weights will be published on Tuesday 19 September and final acceptances fall due on Wednesday 20 September. The final field will be announced that evening.