WITH his top performer Smanjemanje just beaten in a photo-finish to the Vodacom Durban July, trainer Tyrone Zackey can reflect on the 2011-12 season with a great deal of satisfaction.

He sent out 23 winners from his relatively small stable and has demonstrated his ability to get the best out of older horses who look past their sell-by date.

The proof of this can be seen in Thursday’s fourth race at the Vaal, in which Zackey saddles eight-year-old Zebulon and two seven-year-olds, King’s Destiny and American Gangsta.

Both Zebulon and King’s Destiny are seven-time winners and the form book suggests the latter may come out on top on Thursday afternoon. The son of Opera King finished three lengths in front of Zebulon in the race won by Caryl’s Law last month and is only 1kg worse off at the weights.

Zebulon, however, has earned more than R500,000 for his connections and with Robbie Fradd in the irons he will not go down without a fight. He should once again finish in front of his stablemate, American Gangsta.

Zackey will know his trio of runners face stiff opposition from New York and Tilman. Gavin Lerena partners Tilman for the first time and the colt finished only a length behind King’s Destiny in the race won by Caryl’s Law.

New York goes well on the sand surface and has the advantage of pole position in Thursday’s 1,600m contest. He ran on well to finish second to Silver Specialist last time out and could well notch the fourth win of his career.

Zackey’s second-race runner, Aloha Bay, rates an each-way chance provided the filly takes to the sand surface, which she is trying for the first time. The three-year-old is opposed by another sand first-timer, Radiant Wisdom, who brings some useful turf form to the track.

Another with strong claims is the year-older Video Games, who is sure to have her supporters with Piere Strydom booked for the ride. The filly’s trainer can boast an outstanding record with his sand runners.

The progeny of Mogok seem to go well on sand and one of his daughters, Princess Rue, appeals as the likely winner of the final leg of the jackpot.

Another of Strydom’s mounts, Flying Foo, should be competitive here on only her third outing. She is out of that good mare Winning Ways, who won five races, and trainer Louis Goosen’s three-year-old is set for a promising career.

Gavin van Zyl, who did well to finish seventh in last season’s trainers log, is represented by sand newcomer Duskadell. The filly has the worst of the draw and may battle to concede 4.5kg to Princess Rue.

Any boxing enthusiasts will be rowing in with Brett Webber’s runner, Sugar Ray, in the third race. This Argentina-bred gelding has been placed four times from eight appearances.

Nevertheless, it is Webber’s other runner, Maybe Baby, who makes most appeal because she has some proven form on Thursday’s surface. The gelding had the worst of the draw when finishing fifth behind White Squall here a fortnight ago.