Generally the further the race the better Weiho Marwing-trained horses do, so the 14/1 odds of Son Of Raj might not be as cramped as they first appear.
The Duke Of Marmalade gelding impressed when kicking away from the field from a handy position off a slow pace to win the Gr 1 WSB Derby over 2450m by a comfortable 2,25 lengths from Billy Bowlegs.
That followed a three length romp in the Listed 4Racing Derby Trial over 2000m.
However, he only carried 55,5kg in the Derby Trial and the SA Derby field’s merit ratings ranged from 78 up to 114, so was hardly a vintage renewal.
Son Of Raj himself was only rated 81 when lining up for the Derby.
So it seemed he had been put in his place when running a 6,55 length eighth in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000, in which there were four runners rated in the 120’s.
However, a look at the replay shows him dropping out to the back from a wide draw, whereas his best runs have come from handy positions.
He also did make some late progress.
It was his first run on the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf.
His official HDJ gallop was not overly eyecatching, but Yeni said, “He’s a nice, strong, sound horse. He was a little bit reluctant to gallop. He races with blinkers and today he didn’t have his normal headgear on. So, with the grandstand and all those boards, he was doing a lot of looking around. But that’s why we bring them here as well … to make sure they know what’s going on.”
Asked whether he felt he might lead, he replied, “It depends on the pace. You can’t say you are going to lead when you have horses like Dave The King who was going as hard as he did last time (in the Daily News 2000). You can’t be cutting throats.”
Muzi said he would “use his experience” after they had jumped.
By that he meant a few early split second decisions would be made on the racing instinct he had gained from more than 21,500 career rides.
Asked whether he was happy with the draw of nine, he replied, “Yes, I’m happy with the draw. Sometime you’re drawn too well and sometimes you’re drawn too wide. Smack down the middle I can assess the race, see what’s going on on my inside and can see who is coming across from the outside, so I will be able to judge it more easily from that draw.”
Asked whether he thought he had a chance, he said, “I think he must have a massive chance with a light weight and he stays very well. Obviously healthy respect for the favourites, horses like See It Again, Without Question and Safe Passage.”
Weiho Marwing learnt the ropes from the masterful Ormond Ferraris and will likely have Son Of Raj as fit as a fiddle and at his absolute peak.
The Marwing-trained Wylie Hall was first across the line in 2014, but was controversially demoted after an upheld objection.
Wylie Hall came into the July off an identical preparation to Son Of Raj, winning both the Derby Trial and SA Derby before running in the Daily News. The only difference was he ran a close 0,25 length fourth (to Vercingetorix) in the Daily News.
There will be a massive Durban celebration if Son Of Raj wins as he will become the first Indian-owned winner of the July.
He is owned and was bred by Steven Chetty.