Leading rider Craig Zackey resumes his pursuit of the National Jockeys’ Championship at the 10-race Vaal fixture on Tuesday 15 April will likely add to his lead over nearest pursuer, reigning champion Richard Fourie, with a double on the card for trainer Sean Tarry.
However, it should pay to follow rejuvenated Muzi Yeni who has rediscovered his mojo after an injury-enforced layoff and riding at the top of his game. He occupies fourth in the jockeys’ standings, despite watching from the sidelines earlier this season, and his seven rides on the card include no fewer than five with genuine chances of victory.
The first of those is Alesian Beau in Race 2 over 1000m. This Vercingetorix gelding from the stable of Mike and Adam Azzie finished third under Yeni over the same distance 24 days ago when returning from a four-month break and he would have tightened up with the benefit of that encouraging comeback.
Yeni take over the reins from suspended Gavin Lerena aboard Cadice Dawson-trained Desert Cloud and in Race 3, also over 1000m, and is unlikely to pass up the opportunity on the Gimmethegreenlight filly whose last start over 1200m does not accurately reflect her form or ability.
In her two previous outings, both over 1000m, Desert Cloud finished second so a return to the shorter distance will be more to her liking and she need not improve much to open her account at the fourth attempt.
Last-start winner King’s Express carries a three-point penalty in Race 6 over 1800m for his win over the same distance on Turffontein’s Inside track seven weeks ago. Yeni gave this Fabian Habib-trained son of Pomodoro a peach of a ride last time, overcoming a wide No 10 draw in a 12-horse field to race handy before making a winning move over 400m out.
King’s Express kept going gamely under Yeni’s urgings to win by 0.25 lengths in a similar contest and the handicapper’s revised assessment may not be enough to prevent Habib’s charge from following up in his peak outing, especially from a more favourable No 3 gate.
Lerena’s loss could again be Yeni’s gain in Race 7 where Mike de Kock’s Destiny Of Fire lines up over 1400m with a winning chance on her reappearance following a 68-day break. This consistent Master Of My Fate filly ran well in defeat – despite legitimate excuses – when finishing a close-up fourth over 1800m and she would have overcome those issues since.
The shorter distance holds no fears for the relatively unexposed three-year-old filly who remains open to improvement.
In Race 9 over 1400m, Pearl In Her Crown is good value to make a winning stable debut for Fanie Bronkhorst with Yeni retaining the ride, despite the Soqrat filly switching from Paul Matchett’s yard.
Clive Robinson
