The Human Rights Day public holiday crowds are likely to be out at Fairview for the bumper eight race programme on the polytrack today. The 2013 Listed Darley Arabian winner Distinguished has not visited the winner’s enclosure in over two years but he could go close in the topliner.
Distinguished has the ability to upset
Eastern Cape racing is a popular punting platform for punters across the spectrum and the decent sized fields coupled with some higgledy-piggledy form makes for decent dividends if you can catch them right.
Twelve handicappers of varying ability and experience line up in the MR 94 Handicap, and the 1300m trip looks to suit the 7yo Distinguished down to the ground.
Tara Laing – decent duo
Tara Laing has three runners in the race and holds a particularly good hand with topweighted Distinguished and the progressive 5yo Captain’s Reserve.
Wayne Agrella is aboard Distinguished again and this powerful front-runner will be given every chance to bank a winning cheque after a long drought.
His best poly form – including some smart performances in strong company at Greyville earlier on – suggest that he is far more effective on this surface than turf these days.
His stablemate Captain’s Reserve is well drawn at 2 and has outstanding recent form. His last run over 1000m on the turf when beaten 3,50 lengths by the talented Harry Lime was an indicator of his wellbeing and his poly form over Monday’s trip shows what he is looking for.
There won’t be much to choose though between him and Snaith runner Razed In Black on their meeting on 2 October when the Laing runner came up trumps by half a length. Razed In Black is a half kilo better off and will enjoy the extra 100m.
Justin Snaith – always include
Justin also saddles Land Of Meadows who has drawn wide and blotted his consistent copybook when dropping out of things after showing pace last time. He is a course and distance winner and has the form jockey Karl Zechner to guide him.
Grant Paddock’s Crescendo steps up in class again after a good course-and-distance win beating Rebel House last time out.
That was the son of Act One’s first local win and off a galloping 52kgs and with talented Ryan Munger up, may warrant consideration for bigger perms.
The third of the Laing runners is the in-form Rebel House, a decent sort who has won two of his last three runs on the poly. He steps up in class and could be held marginally by Crescendo, but will be dangerous if allowed any leeway.
Frederick Fox has pulled a nasty wide draw but the son of Stage Call chased Captain’s Slipper home over the course and distance last time and enjoys a massive 11kgs weight turnaround in his favour with the Laing galloper.
The grey has not quite realised the early potential shown, but iif Warren Kennedy can work wonders from the barrier gate, he could cause the upset.
The 7yo Russian Mig has won 12 races and is a seasoned hardknocker in every sense of the title.
The son of Qui Danzig was run off his fight in the East Cape Sprint Cup but has an electric turn of foot if allowed to catch his breath and run on late. He could boost the quartets.
Yvette Bremner saddles former KZN based Acapulco and Eternal Jet – both ex Dennis Drier charges.
Acapulco had decent earlier form but hase been rested five months and is likely to need a race or two.
Eternal Jet appears to be slightly inconsistent and returns to the poly after a spell on the grass that saw him win a cracker.
He must have a place chance.
Stormy Ridge has been racing off form of late and his last win was on the turf.
Distinguished looks the value and could have most to fear from his stablemate.
