After last year’s shock result, punters may be treading wearily when approaching today’s R400 000 Gr2 Joburg Spring F&M Challenge. The weight for age conditions should make it relatively straightforward to find the horse to win it – we are plugging for the well-performed Lazer Star.
After Supreme Sunset came out of nowhere with Majmu finding trouble and running fourth, it is not difficult to see that this early season weight for age race is not without a few potential traps – if one considers the apparent galloping 52kgs carried by Robbie Sage’s promising 3yo Made Dubois, as one example.
While she lacks racing experience, she has plenty of ability – but should be getting 8kgs from the older filly at this time – so isn’t well in.
Star Stuff
But let’s consider the likely favourite – Ormond Ferraris’ smashing daughter of Toreador, Lazer Star.
Ormond Ferraris . Trains Lazer Star
Beaten only twice in eight starts, she steps up again from the sprints and tries the 1450m.
She has proven well-nigh invincible over the straight track and her oh-so-unlucky defeat in the Gr3 Three Troikas needs to be viewed against the background of her conceding 7,5kgs to the winner – who frankly has done little since, and makes her own way in Saturday’s Gr3 Diana Stakes at Durbanville.
The lightly raced Lazer Star has been rested seven weeks since her last emphatic victory over Belong To Me, and looks set to grab a seventh career win.
De Kock Pair
Mike De Kock’s duo of Alice Springs and Love To Sail are both serious contenders and capable in their own right.
Anthony Delpech rides the Australian bred Alice Springs, who was rested 22 weeks after pulling up lame at Scottsville.
Her earlier progress of 4 wins from 6 starts suggested that she was a filly on the way up and her progress will be monitored with interest.
The lightly raced Love To Sail has won 3 from 7 and turned on the charm three weeks ago when winning a lower rated handicap going away.
Duncan Howells – trains Sabaha
Ashburton-based Duncan Howells brings Dynasty’s daughter Sabaha to Joburg. A winner of 3 of her 6 starts, she looks to be full of promise but is a bit of a tough cookie and thus did not make the chop for the Howells Cape Summer squad.
She has not drawn too well, but depending on how she travels and settles, she could well show that she is equal to the test – despite having never faced this level of company.
Andrew Fortune and Sean Tarry team up with the former Gr1 winner For The Lads.
Now a 5yo, the daughter of Trippi has failed to live up to her early promise and comes off a nine month rest. She cannot be fancied.
Outside Duo
Corne Spies’ coupling of Sarve and Fire Dancing only warrant outside hopes at best.
Piere Strydom rides Sarve
It is interesting to see Piere Strydom riding for Spies – Striker partners the 4yo Sarve. The daughter of Sarge will certainly strip fit after her decent fifth behind the top-class Little Genie in the Listed Banyana Handicap at the Vaal last Saturday.
She is yet to go this far and there is only speed on her dam side. But if one man can get her to settle and run on, then Spies has made the right choice.
Her stablemate Fire Dancing also ran last Saturday – just finishing a few lengths further back. She has won on the sand over 1450m and should find the trip – her recent form is just not that inspiring though.
The joint topweighted Featherfoot came back to her best last time to score her fourth career victory beating Suedette in an MR 86 handicap over the Turffontein 1400m.
Madame Dubois is the only 3yo in the race and this lightly raced National Yearling Sale graduate has maintained her consistency, since winning her maiden on debut in April.
She is out at the weights with Lazer Star but certainly looks capable of running into a quartet place.
Top Star
Everything points to Lazer Star and she is an automatic first choice.
Fitness and a lack of exposure could come into play when assessing a challenge for the places.
