Azzie on stable’s Heritage chances
ADAM Azzie was guardedly optimistic about the chances of his two runners in the 28-runner R750 000 World Sports Betting Grand Heritage at the Vaal this Saturday when we spoke to him yesterday.
“Arctica is one of those who has been penalised for consistency by the current handicapping system. He is drawn right on the rail which will suit his style of running, and has Piere Strydom up, which is always a big plus. He should be very competitive if 60,5kg isn’t too much,” he said.
He was referring to the fact that the Captain Al gelding’s merit rating has been adjusted upwards from 92 to 97 over his last three runs for a couple of second-placed finishes, something that rightly or wrongly rankles with the vast majority of trainers. Priced up at 14-1 joint third favourite behind the boardtopping Elevated (7-1) at the time of writing, the highly consistent Arctica should be thereabouts.
Slightly surprisingly stablemate Trading Profit is longer in the betting at 16-1 as he comes in off a hat trick at this track.
In the most recent he defeated Arctica at MR 94 level and despite a further seven-point hike in his merit rating, should be one of the primary contenders to succeed Irish Pride, who won the inaugural running of this race a year ago.
“He has had a great prep, and while he now bumps a stronger field, he loves the Vaal straight, and combines really well with Karl Zechner. If he enjoys luck in the running he has to be a serious contender’’ was how Azzie junior summed up the prospects of his second contestant.
Of course the “rub of the green” factor is always going to be more significant in a field of this size, and hopefully the track will not display a marked bias towards either the inside or outside come Saturday in what is sure to be a great spectacle.