SA champion trainer Sean Tarry has a powerful hand in today’s R2,5 million Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup run over the Turffontein 1400m. Heading his sextet is the Visionaire colt Africa Rising.
The richly endowed non black-type feature is restricted to eligible graduates of the 2015 CTS Ready To Run Sales and has attracted a quality field of sixteen.
The race is run at level weights, with the four fillies getting a 2,5kg sex allowance.
Africa Rising – top rated – looks the one to beat
Tarry saddles the top-rated runner, a promising Summerhill-bred Visionaire colt called Africa Rising.
This fellow gets the services of SA champion jockey S’manga Khumalo and the only thing that looks likely to torpedo his winning aspirations is his less than prime draw of 12.
A two-time winner from his four starts, Africa Rising was Gr1 placed as a 2yo when fourth behind Gunner in the Premiers Champion Stakes, and has come out sweetly in his two runs as a 3yo.
He ran a courageous second to Saturday’s Charity Mile hopeful, the year older Mogok Master, and then came out for a smooth win over the talented older Kinaan last time.
If his draw doesn’t bowl him, he must go close to winning.
Gary Alexander – saddles Unagi (photo: JC Photos)
The next one on the official ratings table is Gary Alexander’s Admire Main colt, Unagi, one of the more experienced campaigners in the line-up with 3 wins from his 8 starts.
Sadly he has drawn one gate wider than the Tarry star and may find this on the short side, having registered all his victories over a mile.
Joint second with Unagi and racing off an MR of 96 are the two Tarry fillies, Safe Harbour and Visuality.
Piere Strydom – partners Visuality
Piere Strydom takes the mount on the multiple stakes placed Visuality, who ran some crackers as a 2yo, before staying on steadily for third in her prep in the Gr2 Joburg F&M Spring Challenge.
She was gaining on the winner Mella Maria and it was an encouraging precursor for this engagement.
The Gr1 placed Safe Harbour was thrown in the deep end in the boy’s race on the same day and never featured behind the progressive Kangaroo Jack.
She is loaded with ability but has a very tough draw to beat.
Joey Soma has a pair of runners with the beautifully bred Trippi colt Double Appeal returning from an 18 week break and having his first run as a 3yo.
The son of Met winner Imperious Sue should enjoy this test and shed his maiden at his fourth start – and was campaigned in strong company, without being disgraced. But he may be found wanting in the fitness stakes.
The ‘Heritage Man’ Johan Janse Van Vuuren has a trio of runners, headed by the Visionaire colt The Thinker.
He won well on an unfancied 1000m debut, but was not striding out next time when unplaced in handicap company behind Refuge six weeks ago.
That is not an ideal prep for what should be a bruising race.
Dark horse – Mike de Kock’s Coyote is well drawn
The old team of Mike De Kock and Anthony Delpech team up with the well drawn Fort Wood colt, Coyote.
He was backed to win on his polytrack debut and duly delivered. He then ran a two length fifth behind Palladium in the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes and was rested .
His two runs since against older horses have been fair efforts and the drop in trip against his own age group may be the tonic needed to get him back to winning ways.
Loyalty
Anton Marcus takes the ride for Mayfair Speculators on the second of the De Kock duo in the More Than Ready gelding Act Of Loyalty, who has not quite recaptured the hype of his debut win.
He has demonstrated signs of medical issues (mostly breathing related) but ran a better race at his last start when chasing Al Fahad home.
Dennis Drier’s recent maiden winner Kimberley Club
Dennis Drier has been enjoying a lovely run down in the Cape and he will be thrilled with the 2 draw pulled by his Lonhro gelding Kimberley Club.
The Australian-bred could be well held by Africa Rising on his second run walloping, but these young horses improve and he could be a nice quartet kicker.
If Africa Rising fluffs his lines, the race suddenly gets thrown wide open.
We are going with a Tarry – Visionaire top two.
Africa Rising looks the part to hold his fairer sex stablemate Visuality.
