Rushing Wind is weighted to challenge.
With four Gr1 1200m events topping the bill, the best of the countries sprinters will be making their annual pilgrimage to Scottsville on Saturday. The main event for the older horses is the Gr1 Golden Casino Horse Sprint and although it is in real terms a handicap, sprinters carry weight well and class does tend to shine through, writes Steve Furnish.
Indeed, the globetrotting J J The Jet Plane has won this event twice in recent years.
Rabattache
Heading the weights this time around is the Glen Puller trained Rabattache. Clearly not the soundest of characters having been laid off for several months three times since finishing third in the Cape Classic back in Oct ’09, this son of Rabah is close to the very best on his day. He was at his peak at this stage of the season last year and having only had the two outings since returning from his latest absence has clearly been aimed at this race.
What A Winter is unbeaten over 1200m
Mike’s Trio
The runner with the highest merit rating in the field, and indeed the probable favourite is the 3yo What A Winter. A winner of six of his nine outings, Mike Bass’ charge has been going from strength to strength and is yet to taste defeat over today’s distance. He had several of these behind him when winning the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship over 1000m at Kenilworth in January and then couldn’t have been more impressive when winning a conditions event without ever engaging the upper gears on his return to action after a three month break in April. This son of Western Winter is never the quickest into stride and with the flying filly Val De Ra already four lengths clear before reaching the 800m pole in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m last time out, that did contribute to his undoing. What A Winter did nonetheless run on best of all in that event and with a number of these once again behind him, he was only beaten a length and a quarter into second. What A Winter now has his third run after the rest here and now back over what looks to be his optimum trip, he looks sure to fight it out.
The highest rated of Mike’s two older horses is the 5yo Rushing Wind. A bit of an enigmatic, this Windrush gelding commands a very powerful turn of foot and has flattered only to deceive on numerous occasions. Indeed, Rushing Wind was positioned at the back of the sixteen early in this race last season and running on best of all over the final 400m finished a runner up, beaten just two lengths by J J. He was again finishing best of all when a runner up to his stable companion What A Winter in the Cape Flying Championship and now 3,5kg better off at the weights with that one for just a 1,25 lengths beating, has to be a very serious runner.
The runner up to J J The Jet Plane in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint last season, the 6yo Gaultier was up there with the best of our sprinters earlier in his career. Since winning in his next outing after that event though, this son of Jallad has been battling to reproduce his best. He did put in a fair effort over 1200m on his first start back in Natal last time out, but still racing off a mark just three points below his very best, others are preferred.
Good Thing
Having won five of his last ten outings, the veteran Good Thing is in the form of his life at the moment. He goes particularly well at this circuit having won on three of his previous visits here, and he did have excuses when seeking a hattrick here last time out as he was disadvantaged by a slipped saddle. He’s sure to give of his best, but he is now taking a big step up in class.
Arabian Mist
Tried over various distances, and pitched in against the best in recent outings, Arabian Mist would at first glance look to be inconsistent. He is undoubtedly at his best sprinting though, as his two most recent victories will attest. Those two wins came in the latest two runnings of the Gauteng Merchants where showing a very nice turn of foot, he flew up late on both occasions. He’s sure to be doing his best work late, but having to concede weight to a number of up and coming young horses here, he won’t find this easy.
Shea Shea
Although Geoff Woodruff’s charge has gained three of his five career wins over 1400m, he has shown in no uncertain terms, having trounced his rivals in the Gr3 Man O’ War Sprint and then finishing third in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint last time out, that he is at least equally at home sprinting. The improving Shea Shea was only beaten a length and a quarter by the runner up in that race What A Winter and now 1,5kg better off at the weights with that one here, he should be right there.
Splash Gold could be much better than rated
Splash Gold
For me, the dark horse of the race is undoubtedly Splash Gold. A 3yo son of Goldkeeper, Splash Gold has silently been progressing very nicely and shrewdly placed by his trainer has won four of his last five starts. Usually one to run on stoutly from a little off the pace, his style of racing has kept his winning margins small. He has regularly produced a very powerful burst of speed in winning his races and could well be considerably better than his current mark would suggest. A serious runner.
Joey’s Bid
One of just two couplings in the race, trainer Joey Ramsden is represented by both Bush Pirate and the sole reserve runner Copper Parade.
A runner up in the Cape Guineas earlier in his career, Bush Pirate has shown flashes of real ability. He has flattered only to deceive on several occasions though and prior to his success in the listed Southeaster Sprint in January, he had only managed three wins from 34 starts. He was impressive when winning by three and a half in the Southeaster though and as a result was pushed back up to his highest ever merit rating of 106. Usually one to run on from off the pace, Bush Pirate has failed to make the frame in three starts since the Southeaster though and on those efforts does look held.
As with his stable companion Bush Pirate, Copper Parade has not found winning easy. Indeed, he’s not finished first past the post since successful in his first two career starts. He too is very talented though, as his wins in last season’s listed Juvenile Stakes at Kenilworth on Met Day, and Gr1 Golden Horseshoe (finished second, promoted to first) clearly show. He’s caught the eye running on very nicely in recent outings and could make the frame if at his best.
August Rush
At first glance August Rush would look to have little chance here having been well beaten in both the Cape Flying Championships and Computaform Sprint in recent starts. Those races were over shorter than today’s trip though and in his two most recent outings over 1200m he has finished fourth in the Cape Merchants and more significantly he has beaten Splash Gold in handicap company on 6,5kg worse terms than what they meet here!
Kavanagh
Placed in all of the Cape Guineas, Dingaans and Drill Hall Stakes in recent outings, Mike De Kock’s charge is more often than not seen out over further. He did win the Gauteng Nursery over 1160m at Turffontein last May though and on this very card last season he finished fourth beaten just 2,5 lengths by his very talented stable companion Link Man over today’s course and distance in the Gold Medallion. He’s sure to be thereabouts when the race begins in earnest, but he does have a tendency to get run out of it late and there are a few that can fly here.
Winking Jack
Lance Wiid’s charge has taken on a new lease of life since reverting to sprint distances, winning three of his last five starts and he was far from disgraced when stepping up in class big time in his latest outing in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint. Those three wins were all gained over 1000m though and having risen some fifteen points since last racing in handicap company, he won’t find it easy in this league now back over 1200m.
Dance With Al
The only female in today’s race, Dance With Al has always been up there with the very best on her day and after winding up a good campaign with a third placing in the prestigious Gr1 Garden Province last season, she showed her well being this time around with a smart win against the boys in the Gr2 Merchants over 1200m at Kenilworth in November. Amongst those behind Dance With Al in the Merchants were Rushing Wind and August Rush and interestingly, she is better off at the weights with both here!
Two Tone
One of a number of runners in the race with a very nice turn of foot, Two Tone couldn’t have been more impressive when flying up late to beat some very useful sorts in a MR92 Handicap over 1000m at Greyville last June and at that time it looked as if he would be going on to better things. He was laid off for six months shortly after that, but he did then again show that he had potential when only beaten a length and a quarter by the very useful Moroccan on his return in January. He won very well last week and although he is clearly held on paper by Polar Moon on his running in the Senor Santa, I wouldn’t be surprised if he won here.
Elusive River
As honest as they come, Elusive River showed good improvement when winning his first two starts over today’s distance following a short break and he has since run a very creditable second to the Cape Guineas winner Solo Traveller when trying a mile for the first time in the Natal Guineas last time out. He’s clearly still improving and on that must hold some kind of a chance here.
Polar Moon
Formerly with Grant Maroun, Polar Moon won four in a row as a 3yo and at that stage of his career looked to be a top sort in the making. He was laid off for six months after running below par in July though and on his return to action in January he battled to find his form. His new stable had also been battling to find there form around that time though and he did suddenly come good again when making virtually all to beat three of today’s runners in the Gr2 Senor Santa Handicap over 1160m at Turffontein last time out. Just as he did in the Senor Santa, Polar Moon has a very nice galloping weight of just 53kg here. He has plenty of scope for further improvement and could upset.
About The Pace
With plenty of speedsters amongst the full field of sixteen, the pace looks sure to be on. That should suit those running on and this being a handicap, it is by no means as clear cut as some will see it. Rushing Wind, What A Winter, Splash Gold and Two Tone are my favourites to fight it out, with preference, surprisingly you might think, being in that order.
