No Worries is talented and could go all the way
Upgraded from a Gr3 status to Gr2, the R400 000 Joburg Spring Challenge has only managed to attract a mixed bag field of eight runners. The return of Geoff Woodruff’s boom gelding Rake’s Chestnut is bound to attract plenty of interest though and his clash with the fit as a fiddle No Worries could prove a highlight of the Turffontein meeting today.
The race was won last year in fine style by the beautifully bred current Highlands stallion prospect Potala Palace and is set for another thriller.
Like many top performers at this time of the year, the smart Rake’s Chestnut returns from a break and much will hinge on his race readiness.
Unusual
The son of Horse Chestnut is remarkably still a one-time winner and will probably be best remembered for his storming late effort through traffic in the Daily News 2000, where he failed only marginally to collar subsequent Horse Of The Year and July winner, Legislate.
Rake’s Chestnut opens his account after a break
With only five career runs to his credit, Rake’s Chestnut is one of those rare equine performers who lined up in the July as a one-time winner from just four starts.
He was never in the hunt in the big race and eventually came home in a low key 14th position and some 8,10 lengths behind the winner.
He will be partnered on Saturday for the first time by Gavin Lerena and one gets the feeling that if he is 80% ready, he will win this.
But he will have to contend with the ever-game No Worries , who has had a relatively easy time of it recently.
Big Worry
No Worries set the gallop in the Gr1 Beach Beauty Champions Cup on Champions Day before going down just 2,75 lengths to the top-class Futura. That was not a bad effort if one considers that No Worries was giving Brett Crawford’s star 2,5 kgs.
No Worries lumbered 63kgs last time in a Conditions Plate at Scottsville when slow away and staying on for third and 1,35 lengths behind Tipo Tinto.
He should strip fit for the benefit of that run and could gallop them into the ground if allowed to control matters out front.
Strike Master
Gavin Van Zyl’s Heart Of A Lion could enjoy Strydom up
Piere Strydom rides No Worries’ stablemate Heart Of A Lion , and the connections will probably be thrilled to have Striker back in the driving seat.
The son of Seul Amour ran his best race (0,75 lengths behind Louis The King) with Strydom up and while he has been disappointing recently, he did stay on within a length of the promising Sovereign Mint last time over the course and distance.
Mike Bass now trains Garth Puller’s Clairwood 1200m specialist and stalwart Midnight Run.
Well drawn at 2 and ridden by ace feature jockey Sean Cormack, Midnight Run last run on the Vaal Sand.
His saddle slipped when a 7 length fourth To Anger in the August Stakes.
He will doubtless prefer this, although it is interesting to see the innovation shown in tinkering with a winning recipe. He was, after all, the veritable ATM in KZN!
Lesser Lights
Bass also saddles the R2,3 million Jet Master gelding Mountain Master who was ridden to victory by a New Zealand apprentice jockey on the Asian Young Guns raceday when Clairwood closed.
This looks on the short side for him.
Snowdon is a classy 7yo but has not been at his best lately. He does however have a nice turnaround in the weights with Heart Of A Lion for a four length beating at his last start.
Leon Erasmus’ Zanzibar Man has lost form at his last two starts and would be a shock winner as would Sea Tarry’s Mercado.
Ace Of Pace
There is plenty of pace in the race and it could prove to be a battle of wits out front between the experience of Piere Strydom versus the youthful talent of Keagan De Melo.
They are unlikely to create a platform for Rake’s Chestnut to swoop for the kill, but the final 300m should make for fascinating race viewing.
