CANON GUINEAS (Grade 2) - RABADA back at his favourite track

1-4-7-14-10

The Michael Azzie success story with ABASHIRI has not waned. One tends to forget the impact RABADA made when he burst onto the scene just over a year ago. Then he was touted as being a horse with a bright future. He confirmed that sentiment when he won his first three races, the second and third of which were at this track. He never really showed in his penultimate in Cape Town but returned to winning ways when winning over shorter. He has now won four from six, but more importantly, two were at this track, one of which over the same C & D. Ant6on Marcus has been aboard in all six runs. Expect another good effort from him. The draw of fourteen could be a worry but good horses can win from any draw.

BARITONE should not be too long in picking up a Grade 1. He is in good form and was not disgraced when just over two lengths behind NOAH FROM GOA in the Cape Guineas. He could be the big improver tonight. Justin Snaith trained and Bernard Fayd'Herbe to ride. Also drawn fairly wide.

Stable companion, IT’S MY TURN, is yet to be out of the first three in his five runs. He has won twice. This will be his first run in Durban. Yet again, another widely drawn runner. Grant Van Niekerk has the ride. What impressed last time was the way in which he finished when winning the Cape Derby last time.

Pick Six players from a few years ago would have had three for the price of one with the Justin Snaith runners! Yet another stable companion, BLACK ARTHUR, finished behind IT'S MY TURN last time. He finished 2.60 lengths behind him that day. He stayed on that day and looks to be capable of improvement on last time. Significantly, Anthony Delpech, has the ride for the first time. Whether he has been chosen as the third choice jockey or not will remain unanswered. Cannot be left out of anything now.

MUWAARY ran in the first two legs of the Triple Crown when finishing quite a distance behind ABASHIRI. He is better than that run and has shown a liking for this track. Mike De Kock on a feature race day can never be ignored, especially with Weichong Marwing aboard. Jockey Karl Zechner, fresh from his Triple Crown success with ABASHIRI, rides for current leading trainer in South Africa, Sean Tarry, when he climbs aboard PROSPECT STRIKE. He takes on stronger, but finished less than a length behind RABADA last time they met which was at this track in August.