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November 8, 2007


STRATOS POSTS UPSET IN G3 YELLOWWOOD HANDICAP IN SOUTH AFRICA,
MARE CARRIES TOP WEIGHT OF 132 POUNDS OVER 1 1/8 MILES FOR SCORE,
JET MASTER MARE BECOMES GRADED WINNER, TVI’S 11TH DURING SEASON


Stratos' class carried the day in the Grade 3 Yellowwood Handicap, in which
she carried top weight of 132 pounds to victory over 1 1/8 miles on the sod.
Stratos shocked even her normally upbeat trainer Mike Azzie when springing a major upset victory today at Turffontein in the Grade 3 Yellowwood Handicap. The Jet Master mare’s odds doubled from a morning line of 7 to 1 to an off-time final figure of 14 to 1, even with the presence in the saddle of Weichong Marwing.

Stalking the pace of pacesetting Roman Eagle, Stratos assumed command in mid-stretch and, though she began to tire perceptibly, kept on going to score by 1 ½ lengths.

Team Valor’s bloodstock agent in South Africa, watched the race and said “Yes, she was getting pretty tired and she did look tubby, but she had way too much class for this group of distaffers.”

Stratos, previously a Listed stakes winner, now is a Graded winner with several Graded placings, including a Grade 1. For the record, she becomes the stable’s 11th Graded winner of 2007, its 15th stakes winner of 2007, its 89th stakes winner and 57th Graded stakes winner since 1987. The win was the 18th stakes race victory for the stable this season, which is just 3 shy of the stable record set in 1993.

“Well, this was an amazing piece of work for Stratos,” admitted Barry Irwin. “She was coming off a 4-month layoff and being asked to carry top weight of 132 pounds over a mile and an eighth, which was a furlong farther than she had ever raced. It was a massive victory for her.”

Mike Azzie said “She was absolutely exhausted when she came back, couldn’t catch her breath. But Weichong (Marwing) told me he still had a lot of horse underneath him. It was exhilarating.

“The mare was 35 kilos over her normal racing weight and could not possibly have been fit,” beamed the trainer. “That’s how much talent she’s got. She looked magnificent. Even your former trainer Mike de Kock came up to me and said ‘My God Mike, what have you done with this mare, she looks utterly fantastic. And Lionel Cohen, the breeder was there, and he offered his congratulations. He sponsored the race your filly (Captain’s Lover) won in Cape Town on Sunday.”

Azzie pointed out the horse-for-course angle, mentioning that it was over this inside turf course at Headquarters that Stratos ran her best race ever before yesterday when she beat the nation’s top female Milers for the Renounce Stakes.

“And Barry, that Ipi Tombe Stakes next month is over a mile on this very same course. She will be impossible to beat in that one off this run, I don’t care who shows up,” said the old Mike Azzie that Team Valor has come to know.

Barry Irwin said “Look, I know that Mike Azzie is completely unorthodox and requires the patience of Job and the fortitude of Hercules to contend with, but the guy produces and that is why we use him and will continue to use him.

“William Faulkner once said that in literature ‘one rogue is worth a thousand saints” and that is how I feel about Michael. Gimme one maniac like him and let me skip all those other bankers that are parading around these days as racehorse trainers. He is a third generation horseman and he knows how to get the job done, baby!”