Fit, fast and faithful – Doing It For Dan is a worthy top choice
Trainer Louis Goosen could make it two from two in the Super Supreme Series when he teams up with jockey Piere Strydom and Doing It For Dan in today’s R250 000 Gr3 August Stakes run on the Vaal sand 1200m. Goosen won the first leg of the challenge with Varbration, who won’t be running on Saturday.
Goosen , a noted master of producing speed horses in peak trim, will be expecting plenty from the smart Windrush gelding, who will be looking for his first win beyond 1100m.
Testing The Limits
The ‘experiment’ of pushing Dan to produce his best at slightly further than usual, reminds us a little of Goosen’s Trip Tease 1200m bash at the end of July.
The seasoned trainer and his champion jockey wouldn’t be trying with the six-time winning Highlands bred 4yo if they didn’t believe it could work – and they may have even learnt something from the Tease’s gallant third.
Doing It For Dan has certainly improved from the immature 3yo who was beaten 7,25 lengths by Isphan at this venue a year ago, and his recent form is consistent. He has shown a decent turn of foot and Strydom will give him every chance of winning this well – and setting up a possible date for end September over 1450m.
But one day at a time.
Azzman
Isphan – needs to recapture early sparkle
Mike Azzie’s very decent speedster Isphan ran a 1,65 length fourth to Doing It For Dan last time and looks held again – although he stumbled and had excuses.
Mike De Kock’s course and distance winner Mootahadee was 2,80 lengths behind Doing It For Dan there – but is a kilo worse off – although much better over the extra 200m.
His wide draw deters – as it does in the case of Ormond Ferraris’ Captain Haddock, who is ridden again by the in-form Andrew Fortune.
Classy
Alec Laird saddles the classy Drum Star winner Bouclette Top, who has his first outing on the sand.
Argentinian bred Bouclette Top – racing style and class suggests he could make it a winning debut on sand
The son of Giant’s Causeway returns from a 12 week break and was not disgraced in the Gr1 Gold Challenge, when under 3 lengths off Legislate.
His racing style suggests that he could overcome his wide draw – and he remains a serious unknown quantity – if running to his best turf rating.
Spies Duo
Trainer Corne Spies saddled last year’s winner Anger, but he looks to have little more than an outside hope with his coupling this year.
Anger wins the August Stakes in 2014 – but he is unpredictable
The grey Kiss Me Hardy lumbers top weight and we have to go back to February for his last win – achieved in good style, but at the lesser venue of Kimberley.
His lightly raced stablemate Velvet Verona ran a poor race at his last start at Flamingo Park – and was scratched when lame at his scheduled jump on 13 August. He is well drawn, but will need plenty of improvement.
The 9yo Across The Ice seems to have been around forever and was runner-up in this event in 2011, behind subsequent Emerald Cup hero, The Mouseketeer.
Tarry’s Two
Across The Ice managed a third place last year behind Anger but has a big ask here from his wide draw – and he was not persevered with last time.
Across The Ice is a 9yo – but a proven campaigner over the track and trip
Our SA champion trainer also sends out the Argonaut mare Jade Vine, who is likely to need the run after a long break.
Roman Carnival comes in on a handy galloping weight and caught the eye with a runaway maiden win over the course and distance. With two good subsequent runs, including an impressive MR 87 Handicap victory over Guy From Dubai last time, he could be something of a dark horse.
Wallace Tolmay’s Green Rock is a multiple course and distance winner, but has lost form at his last few outings and is held by the likes of Captain Haddock.
Stavinsky is out of sorts and poorly drawn.
Do It
The natural fit and form choice is Doing It For Dan.
Bouclette Top has ample class, and will go close if adapting to the surface. Then top jockey Anthony Delpech is back in action and teams up with Mootahadee.
