Gr3 Algoa Cup over 2000m at Fairview on Sunday
In Writing finished sixth in last season’s Gr1 J&B Met
Heading up the two card program in the Eastern Cape this weekend is the Gr3 Algoa Cup over 2000m at Fairview on Sunday. Forty six were originally nominated for the event and with a number of talented runners making the journey from out of town, it looks to be a very interesting affair, writes Steve Furnish.
In what is in real terms a handicap, top weight is shared by the locally trained runners, Vangelis and Surfin ‘USA.
Vangelis
A winner of no less than thirteen races in the Eastern Cape, Gavin Smith’s charge is yet to win over further than 1600m at this circuit, but he has won over today’s distance at Arlington. This eight year old son of Kahal has been performing a little below best since completing a hat-trick in Mar ’10 though, and as a result has only managed to find the winner’s enclosure once in his last 21 starts.
Makzoos
Trainer Gavin Smith is also represented by the 6yo Makzoos. Formerly campaigned in Natal, this son of Modus Vivendi has won four times since relocating to the Eastern Cape and two of those victories were gained at this circuit. He’s usually seen out over shorter and is yet to score beyond 1600m. He has recently finished a runner up over today’s course and distance though, and he did have a few of today’s runners behind him when out at the weights in a pinnacle event over 1800m in his penultimate start. He should be thereabouts.
Surfin‘ USA
Third in the Natal Guineas way back in 2007, Surfin’ USA was a well beaten twelfth in this event last year, but he did win the race in 2009. His form has been a little in and out since returning from a seven month break in May, but he was running on strongly when finishing ahead of both Ecole Militaire and Vangelis in the non-black type Founders Trophy in his penultimate start, and he does go particularly well at this circuit.
Key Castle
As well as Surfin’ USA, trainer Jacque Strydom is also represented by Key Castle. Formerly with Joey Ramsden in Cape Town, this 8yo son of Qui Danzig won the PE Derby back in 2007. He went nineteen starts without a win after finding success in his first outing since relocating to the Eastern Cape in Jan ’10, but during 2011 he has found the form of his life. Indeed, he won three in a row earlier in the year and those successes included both the Glenlair Trophy and PE Gold Cup. Those three victories were all gained over a minimum of 2800m though, and he will more than likely find today’s trip a bit sharp now.
Mystic Moon finished fourth in the Gr1 Cape Derby
Mystic Moon
The highest officially rated runner amongst the visitors is the Justin Snaith trained Mystic Moon. One of five runners from the stable in the event, Mystic Moon isn’t far off the best of his generation on his day. He won the listed Politician Stakes over 1800m at Kenilworth in February and in his next start he was a running on fourth, beaten just a length, in the Gr1 Cape Derby. His form since has been a little in and out and one is not quite sure what to expect here. He did put in another very creditable performance when beating some useful older horses under top weight in handicap company on his return from a short break in heavy going in August though, and he does now have his third run after the rest. He will be right there if reproducing his best form, and with Richard Fourie in the saddle, one would expect him to be the stable elect.
We Three
A winner of the Winter Oaks over 2200m at Kenilworth in 2010, the Silvano mare We Three commands a nice turn of foot on her day, and she is at her best around today’s distance. She was running on as well as anything when only beaten 2,1 lengths by her stable companion Emerald Cove in the prestigious Gr1 Paddock Stakes over 1800m in January, and having won the listed Jockey Club Stakes over 2000m at Arlington in her latest start, she comes into the race at the top of her game.
Flighty’s Last
Sixth in the East Cape Paddock Stakes in 2010, the Jallad mare Flighty’s Last is also at the top of her game right now. She was finishing almost as well as her stable companion We Three when third on her return from a three month break in the Jockey Club Stakes last time out and she has since won the non-black type Walmer Handicap over 1800m at Arlington. She has her third run after the rest here and marginally better off at the weights with We Three for just a 1,8 lengths beating, she could turn the tables.
Jean Roi
The 6yo Jean Roi showed flashes of real ability in winning four of his first nine starts and at that stage of his career it looked as if he would go on to better things. What is interesting here though is that along with his only subsequent success, all of his wins have been achieved in soft or heavy going. His style of racing would suggest that the extra here will suit and with some rain forecast in the lead up to this event, there is a small chance that he will find the conditions to his liking.
Social Master
Making up Justin’s quintet of runners is the first reserve Social Master. Trained at Justin’s satellite yard in Port Elizabeth, this son of Jet Master went on to win five of his next seven starts after shedding his maiden tag over 1800m at this circuit in Jul ’10. He’s been sparingly raced this year, but since returning from a four month break in June, he’s bounced right back to best. Indeed, he beat a number of today’s runners fair and square when out at the weights in the Arlington 1800m last time out and having gone up just four points in the handicap for that success, he would appear to be well weighted. Social Master is clearly still improving and if getting a run could surprise.
In Writing
One of nine runners making the journey from the Western Cape, the Editor’s Note colt In Writing has some very useful form to his name. Fourth in the Natal Derby back in 2009, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge has been mainly campaigned over further in recent starts, but he has won over 2000m earlier in his career and he was far from disgraced when sixth in the prestigious J&B Met over today’s distance in January. In Writing is without a win in eleven starts since returning from a year’s absence last November, but then he has been racing in top company. He was running on stoutly when second in the listed Settlers Trophy last time out and looks sure to be involved again here.
Ecole Militaire
A veteran of some 53 starts, Des McLachlan’s charge was fifth in this race last year. This 7yo son of Deep Sleep is without a win in eighteen starts now though and on his two most recent efforts he does look held by others in this race.
Paddy O’Reilly
Thought good enough to contest both the Selangor Cup and Cape Guineas earlier in his career, Glen Kotzen’s charge has been very sparingly raced during the course of the last two seasons. He does still retain a very high level of ability though, as his second positioning in the Gr2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m at Kenilworth in February will attest. Paddy O’Reilly beat both In Writing and Forest Of Dean fair and square in that event and if repeating that effort is clearly a very serious runner here. He does return from a six month layoff here though, and that has to be a concern.
Forest Of Dean
Sparingly raced last season, Forest Of Dean showed considerable improvement after returning from a four month break in June. Indeed, he won three in a row and was making headway when fifth in his penultimate start next time out. He was visiting Port Elizabeth for the first time when third in the Arlington 1800m in his latest start where caught for early toe at that sharp circuit, he did well to get up for third after racing at the back. Paddy Kruyer’s charge has won four of his six starts over 2000m and he is sure to be much more suited by the longer straight here. Expect a bold effort.
October Club
The only runner from the powerful local stable of Alan Greeff, October Club was a runner up in this race back in 2007. He took his tally of wins to ten when successful in a MR73 Handicap last time out and at the ripe old age of seven is clearly as well as ever. He bids for a hat-trick here and is sure to give of his best. He would ideally prefer further these days though and the younger runners in today’s race do have greater scope for improvement.
Hawk’s Eye
After taking a little time to acclimatize after arriving on our shores, Joey Ramsden’s charge hit top form at this stage of the season last year and amongst his three wins was a very easy 5,2 length victory in this race. Since then though, his form has been very in and out. Indeed, he has only managed to fill a place in the Trifecta on three occasions in ten starts. He has nonetheless put in a couple of very good efforts in between time though, and would be in the shake up again if giving of his best.
Predestination
As well Hawk’s Eye, trainer Joey Ramsden is also represented by the talented stayer Predestination. A runner up in the Gold Vase over 3000m at Greyville in July, this son of Dubai Destination would ideally prefer much further. Usually one to race up with the speed though, Predestination has done well around today’s distance earlier in his career, and drawn in pole position here, he should be in the vanguard for nothing. The not so easy to pass Felix Coetzee takes the ride, and that must make him a threat.
Thanks John
One of two runners from the powerful Western Cape stable of Mike Bass, Thanks John won four in a row during the 2009/2010 season and then went on to run a very creditable fourth in the Natal Gold Cup. After finishing down field in the July consolation in his next start though, he was off the track for thirteen months and in his two starts since he has finished well down field. It will be interesting to see how he goes here.
C Major
Mike’s other representative is the second reserve runner C Major. Rarely out of the frame, this son of Dupont has silently been progressing very nicely since shedding his maiden tag over 1800m in December and in particular ran a good third in the Gr3 Winter Derby. He was running on strongly at the finish when returning from a three month break at the sharp Durbanville circuit last time out and is sure to strip fitter here. Further improvement looks sure to be forthcoming from C Major, and on that alone, he must hold some kind of a chance if getting a run.
Tic Tak Toe
A very interesting runner here is the former Cape Town campaigner Tic Tak Toe. This son of National Assembly has taken on a new lease of life since joining the local stable of Barry Steenkamp and has now won three in a row going away. His style of racing would suggest that the extra will suit here and he has drawn very nicely in barrier eight. He’s a runner.
Shipwreck
Since relocating to the Eastern Cape in June ’10, Shipwreck has won three times. What is interestingly here though is that all three of his victories have been gained at Arlington, whereas he has only managed to make the frame once in six starts at this circuit. He’s in good form at the moment having won two of his last three outings, but he was beaten fair and square by Tic Tak Toe in between.
About The Pace
With a number of very useful couplings amongst the full field of eighteen, the pace looks sure to be on. Mystic Moon, In Writing and Forest Of Dean could prove to be the best of the visitors, whilst Tic Tak Toe and Social Master should make a bold showing for the locals. It doesn’t stop there though. In Writing tops Sporting Post ratings and on that he narrowly gets the vote.
