Gr2 Natal Guineas runner up Elusive River races on sand for the first time.
Recall Security Mile over 1600m at Flamingo Park on Wednesday
The annual two day Flamingo Park festival heads up a very busy five card program in midweek, where, topping the bill, is the R200,000 non black type Recall Security Mile on Wednesday, writes Steve Furnish.
Thirteen go to post and with participants from both Gauteng and the Eastern Cape, it looks to be a very interesting affair.
Eye Of The World
Heading the weights is the locally trained Eye Of The World. Rarely out of the frame, this former Eastern Cape campaigner has won fives times at this circuit, two of which were over today’s course and distance. He’s in good form at the moment and usually one to race handy, should be thereabouts again.
Stable companion Copper Trader commands a fair turn of foot on his day and he is 2kg better off with Eye Of the World for a two length beating when they last met in May. Copper Trader was reported lame in that event and has not been seen out since. That has to be a concern and setting off from gate twelve to boot here, he clearly has no easy task.
Elusive River
One always raises an eyebrow when former champion trainer Charles Laird sends runners to this Northern Cape circuit and his sole representative in this event Elusive River must have serious claims. More often than not kept to sprinting during the early part of his career, this son of Elusive Quality ran an absolute cracker when finishing a runner up to the Gr1 Cape Guineas winner Solo Traveller in the Gr2 Natal Guineas in his first outing over today’s distance. Never afraid to make his own running with champion jockey Anton Marcus in the saddle, Elusive River has drawn very well here and will not be easy to beat if acting on the surface.
Sean’s Big Five
Sean Miller has been doing a tremendous job since taking over the reigns from his father and amongst his five representatives here are a couple who could claim first prize.
The highest rated of the five is the Joshua Dancer gelding Comedy Caravan. A winner of five of his ten starts at this circuit, Comedy Caravan goes well for today’s partner Andrew Fortune. He has his third run after a rest here and setting off from gate five, should be in the vanguard for nothing.
The hat trick seeking African Vision has won four of his last six starts and is clearly still improving. He was out at the weights when beating three of today’s rivals fair and square in a pinnacle event last time out and although he was given a five point hike in the weights for that win, he could well confirm the form. African Vision is drawn widest of the thirteen here though and that does make his task more difficult.
There was a time when the grey Lawful Leader was virtually unbeatable at this circuit. Indeed, after coming here as a maiden way back in Jun ’07 he has won seventeen races. He’s been sparingly raced since his latest success in Nov ’09 and although the 8yo has performed with credit since returning from his latest layoff in February, he does look held here.
A winner of five of his eighteen starts the lightly raced 7yo Water Jet has shown flashes of real ability, most notably when winning this very race last year. His form has been a little in and out since that success though and he was comfortably beaten when returning from a five month layoff in June. He would have a shout if at his best, but he doesn’t have the best of the draw here and jockey bookings would suggest that he is not the stable elect.
The dark horse of the race is undoubtedly the 7yo Petrus. Amazingly, this son of Rakeen has only raced eight times, but just as amazingly is the fact that he has only been beaten once. He’s clearly not the soundest of characters and he was reported as lame on the near fore when winning comfortably by three and a quarter last time out. He is still improving with every run though, and on that alone, he has to have a shout.
Mar Aberto
A winner of seven, and rarely out of the frame at this circuit, Mar Aberto has been a tremendous servant to connections. His four latest successes have all been gained over 2200m though and he could now find today’s 1600m trip a bit sharp.
All Ablaze
The lone Eastern Cape raider All Ablaze is without a win now in eleven starts, but then he has continually been taking on the best that Port Elizabeth has to offer around today’s distance. Alan Greeff’s charge has a nice turn of foot and if acting on the surface is sure to be running on stoutly late. He’s never been the quickest into stride though and with a brisk pace usually the norm at this circuit, he could very quickly find himself with a mountain to climb.
Hunters Green
Trainer Vernon Rugg has made no secret of the fact that he rates Hunters Green very highly and he has had his sights set on this race for quite a while now. A winner of nine from twenty six at the circuit, Hunters Green has gained the vast majority of his successes over shorter, but he has won over today’s trip and the manner in which he has won each of his last three starts would suggest that the extra here can only aid his cause. Expect a bold effort.
Incomodo
Sean Tarry’s charge took on a new lease of life after being switched to the sand and ran a very creditable fifth last season in the prestigious Gr2 Emerald Cup. Incomodo was reported as not striding out when finishing a runner up in his next outing and was then off the track for nine months. He’s been coming to hand nicely since his return though and he does now have his third run after the rest. This son of Roy is at his best over today’s distance and could well pull this off en route to another crack at the big one.
Emir
Winning has not come easy of late for the 8yo Emir and he is yet to open his account on today’s surface. He did run on very well when out at the weights behind Boylan Blaze at the Vaal’s sand track recently though and a repeat of that effort would put him in the shake up here.
About The Pace
They normally set off at a fair clip in Kimberley and with plenty of speed in today’s race a good pace looks assured. Incomodo has to be a very serious runner here, and there are plenty of others with chances. Elusive River is undoubtedly the class act in the field here though, as his SSI rating will attest. He has to get my vote on his turf form, but having not previously raced on sand he is by no means home and hosed.
