Kingoftheworld could use his speed to advantage at Greyville
Corne Spies is on the brink of being crowned champion trainer of Zimbabwe and he will be looking for his first KZN Champions Season feature of 2014/15 when the speedy Var gelding Kingoftheworld lines up in the R200 000 Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes at Greyville on Saturday.
Spies is the master of the travel –and-raid routine to any destination on the continent of Africa and his fearless training routine is probably best illustrated by the fact that his second-stringer Paulus had a prep run at Kimberley this past Monday.
Some may label that slightly unorthodox, but the fact that Spies also throws a rose amongst the thorns in the shape of the Fort Wood filly, Lena Laptev, will also keep punters guessing – particularly as she is ridden by Piere Strydom.
But Kingoftheworld looks a deserving choice on his best form to date.
A two-time winner from six starts, he came within a heartbeat of a third win when looking a winner everywhere except at the line last time over the Turffontein 1160m.
That run would have brought him along nicely and even though his conqueror, the Listed Storm Bird Stakes placed Just As I Said, went off the boards in the KZN Yearling Sale Million at his next start.
While he has his first run at Greyville, Weichong Marwing is a master of pace judgement and he could use the gelding’s exceptional toe to give them the slip.
Paulus ran a poor race when 16 lengths behind Defender Of Peace at Kimberley on Monday. He faces a big task – but will be fit.
The only filly in the race is Lena Laptev. She comes off a Vaal sand debut win and must be showing something to have Piere Strydom take a rare Spies ride.
Buckinghampshire wins the Listed race on Met Day
Justin Snaith’s Buckinghampshire has proven slightly disappointing since winning the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes at his second start on Met day.
He was 6,50 and 8 lengths back in the Gr3 Protea Stakes and the Gr1 SA Nursery respectively – so was not disgraced, considering the company. If not in need of the outing after a 12 week break, he is too classy not to be included.
Mike Azzie saddles the duo of High Game and Hot August.
High Game must be the stable elect based on riding arrangements – and his runaway maiden win by 7 lengths over the Scottsville 1400m last time.
He beat little of note, but it could not have been easier.
Hot August has had two Greyville runs but neither set the world alight and this well-related colt may need to up his game before being taken seriously at Gr2 level.
Mike Miller saddles the once long suffering maiden King’s Knight – who won at his seventh time out after a few unlucky seconds.
That win was on the poly but he quickly followed up with a decent enough fourth in the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes. That was a good try after being bumped and Anthony Delpech will give him every chance.
PE visitor Oriental Tiger is a travelling companion for Mercury runner Al Don Cumarco and won his opening try at Fairview 12 weeks ago. He jumps against the paint and could be anything.
Roy’s Marciano showed pace at Scottsville on Sunday but faded out to run 6 lengths behind Jet Air in a small field.
The son of Toreador has only his fourth start and is capable of further improvement.
The Avontuur-bred Vous Et Var won quickly at his second start at Greyville but never showed in the Golden Horseshoe when running 6 lengths behind Seventh Plain. Drawn widest of all, he has it all to do – but Sean Cormack is a man who knows his way around the track.
Kingoftheworld has the speed but Buckinghampshire may be worth another chance as he has been fancied to do much better than he has at his last two starts.
