Copper Parade – multiple Gr1 winner – and fancied despite his age
They say that age is but a number. There is plenty more experience than unbridled youthful enthusiasm amongst the eight runners that line up for the R100 000 Cradock Place Stakes at Fairview on Friday. That applies particularly to the 8yo multiple Gr1 winner Copper Parade and the log-leading legend on his back.
Andrew Fortune – the veteran rides the old man
Andrew Fortune will be keen to make it third time lucky on Yvette Bremner’s old warrior, after two reasonable thirds aboard him at his last two starts.
Now in the twilight of his career, Copper Parade won this race in 2013, when it was run on the turf, but he has shown that he is quite effective on the synthetic surface. He won a cracker four runs back when beating Blackmalkin over 200m shorter.
Fortune will have the run of the race from his 1 draw and more options over 200m further on Friday.
The West Is Wide is racing in prime form and has won three of his six starts in PE.
The West Is Wide – very consistent form
A Gr3 winning 2yo in the Cape, the son of Western Winter put in a gutsy performance to win his last start and while there may be a question mark over the extra 200m on the poly, he cannot be discounted as a massive runner.
His stablemate Vauclair is a course and distance winner, and a ten-time winner to boot.
The son of Var has been rested 6 weeks (he was scratched not eating up last time- a warning?) but beat Copper Parade 2,75 lengths over the track and trip last time in receipt of a kilo. They compete at level weights on Friday, and there will be little between them again.
The 7yo Russian Mig drops in trip and gets the blinkers again at his 77th start. The son of Qui Danzig is a twelve-time winner, who races every other week and will strip fit.
Wayne Agrella appears to have jumped ship to ride Vauclair – but jockeys have been wrong a few times in the past.
Justin Snaith’s Mesmerize was formerly trained by Alec Laird.
Justin Snaith – Mesmerize has good form
The Var gelding has found his feet in this centre and won a good race over the course and distance at his last start, when beating Covariance a half length.
He will be competitive here from a 3 draw with S’manga Khumalo in the irons – and one only has to glance back over his earlier major centre form, to see the calibre of competition he has taken on.
Jacques Strydom’s yard has been in devastating form of late and they send out the 9yo Tetelestai, who has his 74th run in his quest to register his 12th win.
The son of Bezrin knows his way around this track but has not won since April 2014.
His recent course-and-distance form is not of the worst though, and he conceded 6kgs to Razed In Black when going down 2 lengths last time.
Gavin Smith – saddles young gun Frederick Fox
The ‘young gun’ in the race is Frederick Fox, who ran on Monday, when tiring late for fifth and 2,25 lengths behind the high-riding Judd’s Joy in an MR 78 Handicap over 100m further.
He is racing considerably below his highest lifetime MR of 85 and caught the eye as he ranged up into contention inside the final 200m on Monday.
He could run into the places, if this outing has not come too soon for him.
His stablemate, the former Mike Bass-trained Global Express is a versatile sort on his day, having won from 1200m to 2500m.
His 5 career victories include a win on the Greyville polytrack, but his form since relocating to PE is less than inspiring.
He showed pace last Friday when tiring late for fifth and 2,25 lengths behind Gogetthesheriff in the Fairview 1800. He will strip fit here.
Settle For Mettle
Copper Parade, The West Is Wide and Mesmerize look the obvious three to thrash this out.
The master skills of Andrew Fortune could swing it Copper Parade’s way and he is the selection to hold the consistent campaigner The West Is Wide, with Mesmerize in third.
