Summerveld trainer Dennis Drier is known in the holiday province as the Medallion Man. No wonder, really. He is in line for a fifth consecutive win in Saturday’s R600 000 Gr1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion and the Avontuur-bred Horse Guards looks ready to bring home the bacon,
Horse Guards could make it a memorable day for Dennis Drier
Drier has had great success with Avontuur bred youngsters and the unbeaten Horse Guards looks every inch a serious racehorse.
Avontuur bred three of the eleven runners and Pippa Mickleburgh is looking forward to this quality Gr1 contest.
The son of Horse Chestnut was a facile debut winner over 1000m on the Greyville poly at end of April, but then put his hand up big time when following up over Saturday’s course and distance at his second outing.
This will naturally be his big test with a strong contingent of visitors out to spoil the Drier celebrations.
Mike Azzie has been in thundering form and his duo will command utmost respect.
Former PE based Oomph is unbeaten
They include former PE-based three-time winner Oomph who has his first run for big Azzie supporters Adriaan and Rika Van Vuuren.
The son of Tiger Ridge is rumoured to have changed hands for telephone number sums and looks an exciting prospect, whose presence adds great interest.
The Mauritzfontein bred colt has won his first three starts by a total of over 14 lengths and with regular pilot Aldo Domeyer up, he looks set to make a name for himself.
Stablemate Rivarine was crowned champion 2yo colt at the recent Highveld Feature Season Awards.
The son of Var rattled star filly Cloth Of Cloud’s cage in the recent Gr1 SA Nursery, when getting within a length of the Tarry galloper and is yet to disappoint after winning on debut. Azzie’s big race jockey Karl Zechner adds value.
The unorthodox genius of trainer Corne Spies jumps out of the page with recent maiden winner Seattle Singer, the only filly in the line-up.
The daughter of Sail From Seattle is a fit-as-a-fiddle talented ball of speed and has proven her ability in mixed company.
What does one make of her presence? We’d suggest she be included in bigger perms.
Mike De Kock – looking for a decent effort
Mike de Kock saddles the recent maiden winner Act Of Loyalty.
The Australian bred son of More Than Ready was backed into the red and got up smartly to beat Le Tigre. He is reported to have made a respiratory noise – which must be a measure of some concern .
Vaughan Marshall’s Always In Charge won well at his second start at home and has his first KZN outing.
He is one of two Jooste runners – whose Bok silks achieved a third straight win in this race last year, only missing in 2012, after Delago Deluxe won it for them in 2011.
Avontuur are strongly represented and Dean Kannemeyer’s Paperback Writer was an eyecatching winner at his second run – over 1400m on the Greyville poly.
Paperback Writer
The long-striding son of Var is a difficult fellow to assess as he drops 200m into Gr1 company.
Sean Tarry’s Red Rock won his maiden on debut at the Vaal but was then well beaten in the Godolphiin Barb Stakes.
On that run he looks a unique Tarry longshot and has some ground to make up.
Over Sure was beaten 6,25 lengths by the excitinbg Red Chesnut Road in the Godolphin Barb and has only won on the poly.
Brett Warren makes a rare trip from the North with the decent looking Sporting Monarch, who won well on his unfancied debut.
He showed that was no fluke when running a decent second next time after showing nice pace.
Mike Azzie has a power hand with Rivarine and Oomph in his arsenal and we are all waiting to see how good the former PE galloper really is.
Horse Guards has done little wrong though and who is really punting against Dennis Drier making it five on the trot?
