Sean Tarry throws punters, and the racing gods, a tasty bone on Christmas Eve as he sends out star 4yo French Navy on the Turffontein standside track. Good horses make for good racing – and increased betting turnover. At the weights, the son of Count Dubois looks a good thing and could provide an early gift for exotic backers.
The top-class French Navy – looks a touch too good here
Our SA champion trainer is getting quite used to brightening our midweek racing fare – a fortnight ago he stepped out SA Derby winner Legal Eagle on a Thursday afternoon. While that top horse was beaten by the well-tried Killua Castle, it looks unlikely that lightning will strike twice at the same venue.
French Navy takes on eight opponents in a mile Pinnacle Stakes and while he hasn’t cracked a win over the trip since shedding his maiden, he should have this lot at his mercy at the weights.
It has been well documented that either French Navy or Legal Eagle will spearhead the Tarry 2016 J&B Met assault…
And a decision will be made on who exactly travels the long road to Cape Town after the Gr3 London News Stakes, which is to be run on 9 January.
French Navy is currently at 8-1 in the Met antepost and that doesn’t look attractive – mainly because it is known that his conditioner expects Legal Eagle to be turning out on 30 January.
The Gr1 Daily News 2000 winner comes in here off his excellent third behind Master Sabina in the Sansui Summer Cup last month.
With a stablemate in the race, there will be tactical options to ensure a decent gallop – Lunar Approach has been scratched.
Alec Laird will have some hopes of toppling the big gun. He saddles that excellent miler Bezanova, and the still not right Forest Indigo.
Bezanova wins the Charity Mile in 2014
Bezanova probably found the 1800m too far last time when just over a length off Killua Castle and Legal Eagle, and with the in-form Weichong Marwing up, he cannot be underrated.
Tyrone Zackey’s Judicial meets French Navy on 3,5kgs worse terms after his Summer Cup revelation run – when powering up for fourth.
Shadow Ofhis Smile – cannot be recommended, despite his last win
Geoff Woodruff’s Shadow Ofhis Smile came back to something like his best last time to down Charity Mile winner Bouclette Top.
We never know quite what to expect from the son of Western Winter, and he won’t have it easy.
French Navy is the automatic choice and he should bounce back to best to win this and make it a Merry Christmas for all of us.
