Expect Muzi Yeni to win, in theory

Muzi Yeni was in the mix for a shot at this year’s National Jockeys’ Championship over the first three months of the season but then a fall during the running of the Grade 2 Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile resulted in an injury that had him out of action for some three months.

That put paid to whatever chances he may have had to win the title, and it has taken him a while to get back to his best.

These days, however, the Muzi of old is back and he looks to have some excellent rides at the Vaal on Tuesday, so he is the man to follow.

Perhaps the best of mounts could be Quantum Theory in Race 4, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1200m. While the five-year-old gelding has not won a race since August last year, he has put up some outstanding performances against some top-class runners, including the likes of Dyce, William Robertson and Mount Pilatus.

Robbie Sage’s charge had a short rest at the beginning of the year and came back last month to run a 2.05-length fourth behind Mount Pilatus. That run will have brought him on well and he should be hard to beat in a field where he is one of the best weighted runners.

Yeni has a good record on Quantum Theory having ridden him nine times for two wins, four seconds, two thirds and a fourth.

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The race also sees the return to racing of Cousin Casey who although not a sprinter is likely to run at them late and looks the main threat to Quantum Theory.

Yeni also rides Alesian Beau in Race 2 over 1000m. This Vercingetorix gelding, trained by Mike and Adam Azzie, finished third under Yeni over the same distance last month when returning from a four-month break and he would have tightened up with the benefit of that encouraging comeback.

Yeni takes over the reins from suspended Gavin Lerena aboard Candice Dawson-trained Desert Cloud 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.

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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.

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.