Astro News has his first run in PE today
The 2013 Cup Trial winner Astro News makes his debut in the Eastern Cape today, when he contests the Arlington 1800. His presence should add plenty of interest in a race that includes the recently crowned local Horse Of The Year, Blaze Of Fire.
The role of the coastal centre as a second chance saloon for talented horses who may have hit their ceiling elsewhere, is illustrated here with the smart Silvano gelding now racing under the Gavin Smith banner.
Smith will still be on a high after his terrific Emerald Cup win last Saturday.
A notable aspect of Astro News statistics is that he has actually had more trainers than winners in his career. That may well be an indication that he has not always produced his best ability.
The PE Champion trainer is Astro News’ sixth conditioner in a four time winning 33 run career, after Paul Matchett, Ivan Moore, Greg Ennion, Brian Wiid and most recently, Charles Laird.
The gelding looked well set for a big July run when he stormed home under Kevin Shea to win the R250 000 Gr3 Cup Trial by a length beating Bulsara.
Astro News’ July effort wasn’t the worst. He ran ninth and just 4,75 lengths off Heavy Metal.
The Yvette Bremner trained Blaze Of Fire meets Astro News at level weights here, and the two met once previously. That was in the Gr1 Champion’s Cup on Super Saturday, where Blaze Of Fire produced a career peak effort to run third to Jackson. Astro News ran stone last there, but was only four lengths in a compact finish.
Blaze Of Fire goes for an eight win here and looks perfectly distance suited for a big effort.
Hekkie Strydom’s Russian Mig is a six time winner who has shown good ability at times.
He is stepped up in ground here and based on his breeding (out of a Coastal mare) he should relish the challenge. His style of running, where he settles and then turns it on, will not be against him.
Mitch Wiese now trains the former Mike De Kock runner Silent Partner , who comes off an eyecatching second behind Distinguished in the Darley Arabian on Super Saturday.
If not in need of the run, he could challenge for the top cheque here.
Alan Greeff’s smart Ashaawes gelding Way Clear bounced back to winning ways when beating Mozart Memorial a length in an MR 90 Handicap last time. He steps up 200m here, but stays well and as the only 4yo in the race looks like the one horse still capable of improving further.
The former Paddy Kruyer trained runner Gianduja took six runs to win in Port Elizabeth. He is one of three Silvano progeny in the eight horse field.
He achieved that victory with a smooth effort over today’s course and distance last time out, and the Jacque Strydom trained gelding could go in again. His win by 3,25 lengths over the improved JupiterSymphony was a good effort indeed.
This feature is the sixth race on the eight race Arlington programme. With big fields in five of the seven PA legs, bumper exotic payouts look highly likely.
