Across The Ice won well in good company on turf last time out.
Gr3 August Stakes over 1200m at Vaal (sand) on Saturday
The highlights of the calendar on sand coincide nicely with the coming of spring, and heading up the Vaal’s nine card program this weekend is the Gr3 August Stakes over 1200m. A maximum field of twelve are sure to go to post and with a number of the runners prepping for the forthcoming Emerald Cup, it’s never an easy race to call, writes Steve Furnish.
Indeed, the highest rated runner in the field is Sayadaw and he will undoubtedly have his eyes set on that prize.
Sayadaw
In command a very powerful turn of foot on his day, this 6yo son of Mogok has the form to fight out the finish in the Emerald Cup. His only ever run over a trip this short though, was when finishing sixth on debut, and he is returning from a four month break here. Connections will probably be hoping for no more than just to see him running on nicely at the finish.
Storm Crossing won this race last season.
Storm Crossing
An Emerald Cup hopeful with a very wide draw here is Mike De Kock’s Storm Crossing. Although more often than not seen out over further, this son of Western Winter has won three times over 1200m and amongst those successes was victory in this race last season. Returning from a three month break here, Storm Crossing has to shoulder 7,5kg more than he did twelve months ago, and he too is more than likely being prepped for the big one.
Sky Marshall
Mike De Kock’s other runner Sky Marshall is second reserve. This lightly raced son of Jet Master was fifth in the Gr1 Gold Medallion over today’s distance at Scottsville in just his third career outing. He was off the track for a year after that run, but he did show his well being in just his second start back when trouncing his ten rivals in an allowance plate over 1400m in May. He was then well beaten when trying ground for the first time in the Cup Trial in his only subsequent start, but it could well be that he found that trip too far. Sky Marshal makes his debut on the sand here and if acting on the surface could pop up. Watch the betting if he gets a run.
Exclaim’n’exclude
An out and out sprinter, Charlie Laird’s charge has gained three of his six wins over today’s distance. He showed steady improvement during the course of his first full season and wound up that campaign with a creditable 2,8 length seventh in the Gr1 Mercury Sprint. He’s made the frame in each of his two starts on today’s surface and he is now 1,5kg better off with Storm Crossing for a 1,5 length beating when they met in December. Exclaim’n’exclude has the widest draw here though and that has to be a concern.
Iron Curtain
The best drawn of the higher weighted runners is last season’s Emerald Cup winner Iron Curtain. Robbie Sage’s charge was well beaten in his next three outings on turf and then was not seen out on sand until running a fair fifth to surprise winner Bouquet-Garni when returning from a six months absence over 1450m at this circuit earlier in the month. He’s yet to win over a trip this short, and although a better effort can be expected here, his sights will no doubt have been set on retaining his crown.
Master Blaster
Fairly treated at the weights with those already mentioned here, Dominic Zaki’s charge goes well over today’s course and distance and he is very nicely drawn. He’s at the top of his game having won two from four since reverting to the surface and with a master of pace in Piere Strydom in the saddle, he looks sure to be involved.
Phunyuka
The winner of the 2009 Emerald Cup, Roy Magner’s charge was once rated eight points higher by the official handicapper than he is here, and interestingly, his other five wins on today’s surface were all gained over today’s trip. After a spell in the wilderness, Phunyuka has shown signs of coming to hand in recent starts and he is a former winner of this race. Quartet inclusion.
Bouquet-Garni
A former winner of the Gauteng Derby, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge caused a major upset when winning his first start on sand last time out. He had more often than not been seen out over much further prior to contesting that 1450m event, but the manner of his success would suggest that it clearly suited. Amongst a number of other very useful equine athletes in that race, Bouquet-Garni beat all of Phunyuka, Master Blaster and Iron Curtain fair and square. He meets those three on similar terms here and if not finding this 1200m trip too sharp, he should be right there again.
Secret Life
Paul Matchett’s charge has taken to the sand like a duck to water since having his first run on the surface a year ago. Indeed, he’s won four of his six starts and three of those successes were gained over today’s distance. Secret Life was finishing strongest of all when only beaten 1,8 lengths over 1000m here last time out and is sure to relish the return to today’s trip. He’s weighted to challenge and must have a shout.
Prime Mover
After going thirteen outings without a win, Leon Erasmus’ charge has come to hand very nicely in recent outings, winning three of his last five starts. Although those three recent wins were all gained in considerably weaker company, they were over today’s trip and he did win them all very easily going away. Prime Mover is fairly treated at the weights here and clearly still improving, could cause an upset.
Second World
Also representing the stable of Leon Erasmus is the 5yo Second World. He’s as consistent as they come and has won twice over 1000m at this circuit. He is yet to win over further than that distance though and he does have a stiff task at the weights here.
Across The Ice
Sean Tarry’s charge looked to be a very good sort in the making when cruising in by six on debut way back in 2009. He was sparingly raced during the course of 2010, but he did beat Secret Life over today’s distance on turf when gaining his only victory in that year. As with a number of runners from the stable, he again battled to find his form in the early part of this year, but he has in his most recent starts undoubtedly been coming to hand.
This son of Western Winter won very well when out at the weights in a very useful looking pinnacle event on turf last time out and he has shown when a 3,5 lengths third to Master Blaster in May that he can act on today’s surface. Across The Ice is 4,5kg better off at the weights with Master Blaster here. A dark horse.
The Mouseketeer
As well as Across The Ice, trainer Sean Tarry is also represented by the 4yo The Mouseketeer. This son of Kahal showed real promise early on in his career and wound up a very promising first campaign with a fifth placing in the Gr1 Golden Horseshoe. As with Across The Ice, he too was not at his best earlier in the year, but in his three most recent outings, he has come to hand very nicely. Those latest efforts were all over further than he races here and he is yet to race on sand. He has won over 1200m earlier though and if acting on today’s surface, must hold some kind of a chance.
Waitangi
Having won three times over 1000m here, first reserve Waitangi clearly goes very well at this circuit. He won the non black type Lightning Stakes when gaining the latest of those successes, but that was back in Jan ’10. He’s been coming to hand nicely since returning from a fifteen month layoff in June and although others are preferred, it will be interesting to see how he goes.
About The Pace
They usually go a fair clip over today’s distance on the sand and there does look to be enough speed in the race to ensure at least a decent pace again here. All the usual suspects look sure to be thereabouts if at their best, but I’m going to take a chance each way with one of the dark horses Across The Ice.
