Paul Peter was not too happy with the draw of 17 his Grade 1 TAB Premier’s Champions Challenge winner Astrix landed for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
Peter said, “It is not ideal, especially for a horse who goes handy, but it was all done very fairly and it’s just what is meant to be.”
So the draw will be one of the obelisks for the Vercingetorix gelding to overcome if he is to win the country’s premier race.
He was overlooked by the pundits and public before the Premier’s Champions Challenge and started at even longer odds than his current July price of 50/1.
Peter said, “From that draw they might forget about him again, but he is fit and well and if you’ve got a ticket you’ve got a chance.”
He added, “He is improving with age and is over all his little issues and niggles. He’s doing very, very well. He’s got a lot of heart, he fights on.”
His sire Vercingetorix appears to not only get them to perform as two-year-olds but also has the trait of his father Silvano in that he gets them to improve.
Peter said, “I think Vercingetorix is going to take over from where Silvano left off.”
He concluded, “Astrix is a very uncomplicated horse. He is in the right space and he always produces.”
This will be the champion elect trainer’s second July runner.
He finished fourth with Majestic Mambo in 2018.
Picture credit: Candiese Lenferna Photography
