Copper Parade races off a mark 7 points below that of his previous best.
The best of the action in midweek takes place in Natal where ninety plus handicaps top the bill on both cards. Of particular interest is the MR93 affair at Scottsville where several of the runners will be preparing for features, writes Steve Furnish.
Last season’s Gr1 Golden Horseshoe winner Copper Parade is the highest rated runner in the field.
Copper Parade
Joey Ramsden’s charge only got the verdict in that prestigious event in the steward’s room, but he was finishing the stronger that day and would surely have won had he not been obstructed. His only other two successes came in his first two career starts, and he is yet to win over 1200m. He is clearly very talented though, as his wins in last season’s listed Juvenile Stakes at Kenilworth on Met Day, as well as the Golden Horseshoe (finished second, promoted to first) will attest. He has caught the eye running on very strongly in his most recent starts over today’s distance and he was entered, but only got in as a reserve, for the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint over today’s course and distance two weeks ago. Kevin Shea takes the ride and racing off a mark seven points lower in the handicap than that of just eight months ago, I expect him to be right there.
Team Tarry
After a rather indifferent period over the past few months, the stable of Sean Tarry has been coming to hand nicely in recent weeks and he is represented here by both Cool Spender and Mr Top.
A winner of the listed Golden Loom Handicap earlier in his career, Cool Spender has won three from six over 1200m and amongst those successes is a victory over today’s course and distance. He would have a shout if finding his best form, but he was laid off for over nine months after running below par in the listed Umngeni Handicap last August and having run down field in his only start since his return just three weeks ago, one is not quite sure what to expect.
Mr Top had been off the track for a similar length of time when retuning to action at the beginning of last month, but whereas Cool Spender was comfortably beaten, he ran a close up fourth. This 6yo son of Numerous has gained four of his five wins over today’s distance and with Felix Coetzee in the saddle one would expect him to be the stable elect. He’s a runner.
Hot Rocket
This son of Bezrin might not be the most consistent of characters, but he does undoubtedly have plenty of ability. He found good support (12/1 into 7/1) when dropping back in distance to 1200m last time out and despite being up in class, won well. He’s now unbeaten in two starts over today’s trip and being a 3yo has plenty of scope for further improvement.
Whole Kaboodle
After a spell in the wilderness, Alyson Wright’s charge looked to be right back to best when winning a conditions event when out at the weights over today’s trip in April and he has run two good races since. Whole Kaboodle was beaten fair and square when 2,1 lengths behind Hot Rocket in his most recent outing, but he is now 1kg better off at the weights with that one and whereas he had an apprentice on board when they last met, he now has Anthony Delpech.
West Coast Swing
One of three 3yo’s in the race, Charlie Laird’s charge has been coming along very nicely and is yet to miss the frame. He’s shown improvement with every run in our book, other than when being reported as making a respiratory noise in April, and in Empenoso Henn, he could well have bumped a very good sort last time out. Usually one to race up with the speed, West Coast Swing has run well in his two previous starts over today’s distance and with plenty of scope for further improvement, should be involved again.
Great Detail
The most lightly raced of today’s runners, Mark Dixon’s charge impressed when cruising in by three at big odds on debut. He’s been taking on strong company since returning from a short break in March and was far from disgraced when only 2,9 lengths off the subsequent Natal Guineas third placed runner Phantom Fighter in the Gr3 Byerly Turk over 1400m here in his penultimate start. Great Detail races in handicap company for the first time here, and he does now revert to 1200m. He could well be better than rated and with plenty of natural improvement likely to be forthcoming, he must hold some kind of a chance.
Jungle Call
With just three successes from forty starts, this son of Opera King has not found winning easy. Indeed, prior to dropping down considerably in class four runs back, he had not found the winner’s enclosure in 30 starts. What chance here?
Secret Story
Other than the 3yo’s, the dark horse of the race has to be Secret Story. Without a win in seven starts on turf, marginally in under sufferance, and having only had one outing in the last seventeen months, this son of West Man would seem to be in the wrong race at first glance. Secret Story was only beaten a length and a half at levels by this season’s Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint third placed runner Polar Moon in his penultimate start though and is clearly much better than his current mark would suggest.
About The Pace
With most preferring to race up with, or close to the speed, at least a fair pace can be expected. A fair clip will suit the class act in the field Copper Parade, and he is well weighted on his earlier form. He gets the vote.
