Ice Machine – caught the eye in July and this trip will suit better
Ice Machine ran a cracker in the July when looking dangerous and only fading late. Over 400m shorter, and with Anton Marcus back in the irons, is it stretching the imagination that he could lower the powerful Snaith colours in Saturday’s R1 million Gr1 Champions Cup?
Snaith looks to have a particularly powerful hand and sends out last year’s winner Futura and recent Gold Challenge victor Legislate, and the pair really do stand out head and shoulders above their opposition.
Snaith was expected to face some pressure decisions following the post J&B Met stable change that saw Futura transfer from Brett Crawford.
Dynasty Duo
Two top class Dynasty 4yo colts – one a July winner and the other a L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and Met winner – looked to have the potential to be bumping heads somewhere along the KZN Champions Season road.
Thankfully, the ‘mine is bigger than yours syndrome’ has largely been avoided, with the duo meeting only once so far, in the Gold Challenge – won by Legislate, and with Futura running just over a length back in fourth. Third placed Bezanova went on to win the KZN Million Mile next time.
Futura takes on Legislate over 1800m
Legislate ground his opposition into the ground there with a front-running exhibition of his giant stride, with Futura second to last turning into the straight.
Legislate never looked like getting beaten and while Futura ran on steadily down the wide outside, he just had too much leeway to make up.
There was talk in some circles of Futura having been given an overly sympathetic ride – which makes no real sense, and which was confirmed in the July where he once again ran on too late in similar fashion into fourth – a great effort giving the winner Power King 7kgs.
Futura set to bounce back
Bernard Fayd’herbe, who enjoyed such terrific success earlier this season on Futura, is back aboard on Saturday.
There was doubt whether Legislate would run here after his tough race in the Mercury Sprint. Pipped for second by Gr1 winner Carry On Alice, Legislate emerged with his reputation intact in high-class sprinting company. But he has had an extra week to recover.
Over the extra 1800m on Saturday, Futura will come boldly into the picture and the tactical battle between the two should be great entertainment.
If Legislate is going to try and make it all, he may find himself having to pace it with the likes of No Worries and Deputy Jud – and that could prove a destructive exercise, which will only play into Futura’s hands.
Opposition
It is difficult finding anything to beat the Snaith duo, but…
Drill Hall Stakes winner Ice Machine is a revelation this season and Anton Marcus is back aboard. He was just over 4 lengths back in the July.
He was going very well there until the 200m when running out of steam – he may not have stayed the distance given the good pace. With Marcus back and a drop in distance, he could surprise
Tarry Duo
Sean Tarry – Willow Magic and Halve The Deficit carry his flag
Sean Tarry saddles Halve The Deficit and Willow Magic.
Willow Magic fought jockey Piere Strydom in the Mercury Sprint and faded out to close on ten lengths behind. That was in sharp contrast to his Post Merchants third placed effort behind Daring Dave and his runner up effort to Legislate in the Gold Challenge.
Tarry said recently that he felt that Willow Magic had lost his natural speed – and he now pushes his charge to 1800m for the first time.
Halve The Deficit is struggling to crack another win, but has not been far back in recent starts. He was beaten 2,15 lengths by Legislate in the Gold Challenge and just over 5 lengths in the July.
He will no doubt run another honest race, but may not be quite up to winning.
Pacemaker
No Worries looks the likely pacesetter and has drawn wide out at 13. He ran into fourth in the KZN Million Mile and was a disappointing 9 lengths back in the Gold Challenge.
Fred Crabbia’s Afrikaburn – dark horse was a top 2yo
Cup Trial winner Punta Arenas has never been better. Welll drawn and fit after his second placing to Power King in the July, he must be considered.
Dean Kannemeyer’s lightly raced Afrikaburn was a boom 2yo, who has only his fourth outing as a 3yo.
The classy son of Trippi put in a reasonable polytrack prep over too short last time and should start coming back to his best. Whether he is ready to take on the likes of Futura at this point is questionable.
The Bass duo of Ashton Park and Helderberg Blue appear to be struggling to assert themselves with mostly dull efforts at their recent starts.
Dull
Mike Bass – frustrating Helderberg Blue
Helderberg Blue, particularly, was expected to do a lot better than his eleventh place finish in the July and is fast running out of excuses. He ran a fair fourth in the Cup Trial at his penultimate start and could run into the back end of the quartets.
Mike Azzie’s Deputy Jud appears to have been outclassed and outpointed in both the Daily News and the July and an MR 88 Handicap win credential does not look good enough to suggest he can win a race of this nature.
Light The Lights has not won in 9 months and ran ordinary races in the Daily News and tabGold 2200.
A handsome specimen of a horse, he somehow appears to lack the killer kick to finish off his races and be genuinely competitive at this level.
The Choice
It looks a straight fight between the Snaith duo. Legislate could be caught short off a hot pace and there looks to be plenty of that commodity in the race.
On the balance of things, we are going with Futura to grab him late and win it. But be careful of Ice Machine.
