Battle of the Sands

Mr Tobin – Unparalleled record on the sand suggests he is overdue and deserving of the big one

It’s Africa’s big one on the beach. Postponed from Saturday, the R600 000 Gr2 Emerald Cup 1450m battle on the sand promises an epic clash of the sand soldiers on a surface that is unmercifully demanding. No quarter will be expected or given in a race that will unquestionably sort the doers from the talkers.

Plenty of interest has been generated by a unique horseracing event that has grown in popularity over its seven years of existence. Raw ability and fitness, suitability to the underfoot demands and tactical strategy from the barrier gate are just some of the considerations that will come into play. Then, of course, a little luck never hurts either.

Cape Challenge 

The provincial nature of the 2012 renewal means that the proven sand stars will  have to be on their toes to cope with the Western and Eastern Cape onslaught, headed by a once champion juvenile and backed up by some of the shrewdest brains in the game in trainers Joey Ramsden and Mike Bass.

The two Milnerton conditioners have won mostly everything there is to win in the way of Group silverware  on the more traditional royal carpet of the turf further South. In assessing this puzzle we need to try and understand the thinking and motivation behind their long trek northwards for a race that offers a fair, albeit not outrageously lavish, stake.  There are after all major expenses and risks involved with travelling racehorses away from home.

So simply put, why would Ramsden and Bass, and the likes of the Steenkamp-Sham partnership take on the likes of Sean Tarry and Mike De Kock in their own backyards with their proven sand specialists?

A case of stepping into the lion’s den armed with a textbook and filled with hope? Folly, or jolly, time will answer that.

History

Everybody has a chance here. There are no majorly dominant names on the Emerald Cup roll of honour that dates back to Hilti’s win in 2005. Owner Mrs Bridget Oppenheimer won it that year for Mike De Kock, and her famous yellow and black silks were back again in 2010 with the Robbie Sage-trained Iron Curtain.

Sean Tarry won it last year for the first time with The Mouseketeer.

Only two jockeys have won it more than once. Retired Peruvian-born Guillermo Figueroa rode Hilti and then won it again in 2009 on Phunyuka for Roy Magner.

Piere Strydom won it for Dominic  Zaki on National Spirit in 2006, and again in 2007 when Bradley Maroun’s Narc got up late.

South Fork?

Joey Ramsden heads the visiting challenge this year with the well-travelled Windrush gelding In A Rush. This former Eastern Cape champion juvenile relocated from Gavin Smith’s yard to the Ramsden Clairwood satellite base some time ago, and has run two cracking races in his new home. He also appears well over his medical issues.

After going third on July Day in the Thekwini Stakes over 1200m, he won his first start as a 4yo in an MR 100 Handicap over a mile under Sean Cormack at Scottsville a month ago. He comes to Vereeniging a fit horse, and the decision to go for this tough race has probably been buoyed by the superb judgement and recommendation of our champion jockey, whom we believe has ridden him in work.

Horses generally require three runs on the sand before being allocated a sand MR, and In A Rush thus comes in here with his turf MR.

While he boasts the services of Anton Marcus, who probably could have ridden anything else, the draw ceremony went pear-shaped for the connections and it is not going to be a cakewalk from the 15 gate.

But, as well documented, In A Rush boasts the scalp of current Equus Horse Of The Year Variety Club to his credit, and has plenty of natural ability with the heart to match. He also has bigger fish to fry down south this sizzling summer.

Bass’ Secret

Captain’s Secret – The classy Cape visitor will be looking to build on his August Stakes effort

Mike Bass sends out the enigmatic talent of Captain’s Secret for Bryn Ressell and Marsh Shirtliff.

This gelding booked his Emerald Cup berth with a sterling effort at his first sand try in the August Stakes. He had no chance there with the winner Across The Ice, but stayed on doggedly for a 5,25 length second. That may not sound impressive at first glance, but he jumped from the worst draw and despite looking awkward late in the race, he put in a fair effort. He is only a kilo better off with Across The Ice, which may not be enough to reverse matters. But we can assume that he is far more settled now in his temporary new home and goes in here with a little more confidence.

Ice Pick

Sean Tarry must harbour high hopes of winning this race for the second year running. His powerful quartet is headed up by sand star, Mr Tobin, and is backed up by recent emphatic August Stakes winner Across The Ice. Last year’s winner The Mouseketeer and the consistent Tiger Ridge mare Follow The Piper make up the package.

Mr Tobin’s is our sentimental first choice. What does one say about a horse who has won seven of his last eight starts – all on the sand?

The Argentinian-bred warrior boasts a career nine out of ten pass mark on this surface and while he is a lot closer in the weights to many of his opponents after five Pinnacle Plate starts, he goes to post a fit and capable horse who really deserves the recognition of the ultimate prize on this surface.

Gavin Lerena rides him from a 10 draw, and his last two wins were over the course and distance. We are quite sure that the commentator on Saturday will not make the same error of judgement as we witnessed last Thursday. Mr Tobin was being called dead and buried with 500m to run. That’s foolish talk- he got up in the end under Piere Strydom to win going away.

Robbie Fradd sides with the Western Winter 6yo Across The Ice, who won the August Stakes in outstanding fashion. History doesn’t lie and this race is a great pointer to the Emerald Cup.

Across The Ice – Tarry’s impressive August Stakes winner should take a power of beating again

There are many though who argue that Across The Ice had the run of the August Stakes race and was flattered by his 1 draw. Just watch the replay, and look closely at horse and rider’s body language in the final 400m. So that luck argument is not entirely true.

Across The Ice ran fifth and 7,25 lengths at level weights behind The Mouseketeer in this race last year. He seems to be getting better and is well drawn again. He could fulfil all of his early promise, by winning this.

The Mouseketeer was named Sand Horse Of The Year after the August Stakes-Emerald Cup double last year, but has not won since. He does get the services of Piere Strydom though and this touch could revive his enthusiasm for racing. He is better off with Mr Tobin on their last meeting, but The Mouseketeer needs to get his mind back on to the winning job, before we tip him.

Tarry’s quartet is rounded off by the mare Follow The Piper, who relishes the sand and is a multiple course and distance winner. She jumps from the 14 draw which is not in her favour, and she should find the boys a touch too strong for her.

Mike Magic

Mike De Kock sends out a coupling, which could well rain on the Tarry party. The 5yo Mogok gelding Meadow Magic and the rather enigmatic Right Beauty, make up his pair.

The sparsely campaigned Meadow Magic is partnered by stable jockey Anthony Delpech from a great draw at 2. The Scott Brothers-bred gelding has come on leaps and bounds since shedding his maiden in PE and has done little wrong at his few starts on sand.

He is a kilo better off with Mr Tobin for a narrow beating when last they met.   Meadow Magic has not run in over 78 days  and his fitness must be taken on trust. We tend to give them the benefit of the doubt when De Kock’s involved.

Right Beauty has pulled the 16 draw and the grey Right Approach gelding is difficult to fathom. He has only tried the sand once in his eleven starts, and that produced a rather impressive victory over the distance in a highly rated MR 104 Handicap.

Calanish was third in that race and some 7,75 lengths adrift when giving Right Beauty 4,5kgs. Calanish now receives a kilo but the comparison serves little purpose as Right Beauty is grossly inconsistent and could put on any face on Saturday – even his Sunday best, in which case he could be a dangerous quartet kicker.

Others

Phumelela will be welcoming the presence of Bob ‘N Weave from their lesser racing centre down Port Elizabeth way. His last start in the Founders Trophy was disappointing when he plodded late, and while the Sham-Steenkamp training combination are in terrific form,it is difficult suggesting that this gelding could build on his Recall Flamingo Mile third to Caryl’s Law at the start of this season, by somehow burgling this.

Beacon Flare – Marwing’s course and distance winner is handily weighted and the dark horse in the race

A runner that entered the picture after a smart effort last Thursday on the Vaal sand is Weiho Marwing’s Beacon Flare, who meets Mr Tobin on 6kgs better terms. The son of Spectrum is a previous course and distance winner who comes in here on a handy 53kgs. He bumped some big names earlier last season, and is obviously highly regarded by his connections. He may be the value dark horse of the race.

Brian Wiid’s Astro News ran a cracker of a prep run to show his fitness when finishing well and 2,50 lengths behind Tender Twilight in a 1450m Pinnacle Stakes at Turffontein last Saturday. He is a turf Group race winner and thus warrants the utmost respect, but it is going to be difficult from the 11 draw.

Leon Erasmus and his regular rider Sherman Brown have gotten rather lucky with the pole position draw pulled by the pacy Mogok 6yo Prime Mover. He is 5kgs better off with Across The Ice on their last meeting, but that said, the seven-time winner looks a far better horse over 1200m. He failed to settle in this event last year when running a bleak twenty lengths off The Mouseketeer.

The 6yo Lecture gelding Calanish may be lacking the punch required to win this, but is another who may get the better of Mr Tobin based on the weight turnaround of their last clash.

Calanish gets 5,5kgs here after running a level weights 3,75 length fourth to the topweight last Thursday. He is also much better off with Across The Ice on their August Stakes meeting. In that event Calanish gave the winner 7,5kgs and was beaten 7,25 lengths. He receives a half kilo here. Across The Ice  looks to be the stronger though.

Roy Magner’s Eastern Cobbler ran a 9-1 second and 1,75 lengths off The Mouseketeer in this race last year.

His ensuing ten races have delivered a win over 2000m at Turffontein and he actually looks to have the measure of Mr Tobin on his last meeting with the Tarry horse. That was in a Pinnacle Stakes at the beginning of August over a mile when they met at level weights and Mr Tobin beat him by 3,75 lengths. Eastern Cobbler gets 5,5kgs here, which gives him the edge on paper.

 Summing Up

Thanks to the visiting challenge, the Emerald Cup is a race with plenty of needle and is likely to produce an exciting finish. If you haven’t booked a hotel room or a braai spot yet, consider saving the petrol money and taking a Place Accumulator. It could produce a handsome dividend with the competitive racing on the day and the best seat may well be in front of the television screen.

We are siding with Tarry’s August Stakes winner Across The Ice to get the better of his stablemate Mr Tobin, while De Kock’s Meadow Magic and Beacon Flare could be the dangers.

That is not to say of course that we won’t be cheering the Cape challengers on. If In A Rush gets a little lucky from that awful draw courtesy of the Superman magic, the race could well turn out very differently from what the Tarry and De Kock supporters might want to believe.