When Red Spice won the Ridgemont Cape Of Good Hope Nursery Gr 3, it marked the latest feature race win for a father-son training combination. This time it was Piet and Elbert Steyn. That follows serial winners Mike and Mat de Kock, while Brett and James Crawford also enjoyed Gr 1 success before Brett handed over the reins and went to forge a career in Hong Kong.
There are other trainers, like Candice Bass, Lucinda Woodruff and Gavin van Zyl who come from famous racing dynasties and whose fathers still keep a guiding hand over their progress.
Adam Azzie has bucked the trend. In fact, he has cut the umbilical, in a racing sense, by relocating to KwaZulu-Natal with his young family as he attempts to carve out his own individual legacy. “In all honesty, it was time,” says the 38-year-old who is still establishing himself at Summerveld. He has a bit of The Lincoln Lawyer in him as he laughs, “my office most days is my car because I don’t have an office!”
From there he plots his path to success. At least he is surrounded by friends, and quite literally family. “I have a lovely view from the yard. Nathan Kotzen is opposite me, Mike Miller (father-in-law), Kom Naidoo and Gareth van Zyl are all near neighbours.” Azzie is still bedding down in the province, having arrived last September and building up his yard.
“I have 16 horses in the yard and want to get to 40 by the end of the year. And then next season I am looking to grow to between 60 and 70 horses. At the moment it’s a small string, but that’s by design and there is a plan.”
The Azzie name is familiar in racing households. Adam’s great grandfather, East London-born George, started training in 1922 and handed over to Herb in the early 1970s. From there, Adam’s father Mike took out his trainer’s licence in 1981 and that’s how Adam later cut his teeth.
“Back in 2015/16 we had nearly 150 horses in the yard, so I’m no stranger to working in a big stable.” Owner Adriaan van Vuuren had a huge portfolio with the Azzies, which included Gauteng Triple Crown winner Abashiri, but he quit the sport and that had a knock-on effect with the stable.
“I was with Dad for 18 years and I could not have asked for a more inspirational and qualified teacher. He always gave me free rein to play to my strengths, but it was time for me to build my own brand. I was always a Sharks rugby supporter, which is strange given I attended Pretoria Boys High, but as I always say, we had a Springbok World Cup-winning captain (John Smit) who went from Pretoria Boys to become a Sharks legend!
“I am very close to my in-laws and my brother-in-law is one of my best mates and staunchest supporters. I am very much family-orientated and when my wife (Callie) and I unpacked all the pros and cons, we decided KZN would be the best move for our family and career. There are great schools in the Hillcrest area, so it’s fair to say that our children Boden and Presley will have the best education and that’s so important. Also, we lead an active lifestyle and we feel we’re in the right environment for that going forward.”
Understandably with new beginnings and a small string (for now), visits to the No.1 box have been limited, but the greenshoots of success are already there. The three-year-old filly Thought Control opened the Adam Azzie chapter when winning her maiden in January and the two-year-old colt Green Energy showed that he is a youngster with a future when winning in the soft at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in February.
“The easiest time for a horse to win is when it’s two but Green Energy didn’t look like he’s a precocious sort, although he’s a natural and he’s the only juvenile to race so far for me this season. The others are coming. “I’m implementing the small things and have a few new clients which is very exciting. Having 60-70 horses is probably the sweet spot when it comes to ideal size going forward.”
When asked to name five character traits that describe him, Adam has a quick think and then reels off: “Experience, legacy/dynasty, passion, pride and proof in results.” And, like everyone with ambition, Grade 1s are part of the future ambition.
Already, he has a head start. In terms of Gr 1s he has the T-shirts and trophies, from time spent with his father. Now is ripe for him to make a name for himself, with the help of friends, family and a racing fraternity that has spent the last 100 years becoming so respectful of the Azzie name.