Dynastic Power – cllassy and distance suited
After the Punta Arenas disappointment at Kenilworth last Saturday, Phillipi trainer Stan Elley is surely due a change of luck. That could be provided by the classy Dynasty gelding Dynastic Power who lines up in this Saturday’s supporting feature, the R250 000 Gr3 Cape Summer Stayers Handicap to be run over 2500m.
A J&B Met entry, Punta Arenas dumped his jockey in the preliminaries to the Gr2 Premier Trophy and took no part in what would have been an important component in his prep.
Compensation
Stan Elley – strong contender in Dynastic Power
Dynastic Power could provide some compensation though.
A half-brother to one of Elley’s best in the Badger Land gelding Red Badge, the son of Dynasty gets a chance at what looks to be in the proximity of his optimum trip.
It will be the first time he goes this far, but is an intelligent horse who relaxes and produces a nice turn of foot.
He has produced three excellent prep runs since his rest following his dethroning of Kannemeyer’s crack gelding Power King in the Winter Derby last term. He was also placed in the first two legs of the Winter Series.
Underlined
Wavin’ Flag’ – smart Summer Cup effort
Power King stamped the merit of that showing with a heartening third placed effort behind Dynamic and Helderberg Blue in the Premier Trophy on Saturday.
Greg Cheyne rides him for the first time and off a handy 53kgs, Dynastic Power should go very close.
He bumps Brett Crawford’s Gold Cup winner Wavin’ Flag, who ran a cracking fourth in the Sansui Summer Cup when 4,50 lengths off Louis The King. That effort was achieved without the benefit of a prep run and he finished very well.
Wavin’ Flag represents the genuine class staying ability in the race but caution should be exercised as one can only speculate as to when his stop-start tough travel programme will catch up with him.
Topweight
River Crossing carries top weight
Mike Bass-trained topweight River Crossing stays every inch of this trip but may need a run or two to hit peak fitness.
The son of Caesour was thought to be a July horse at one stage of his career and disposed of the capable Johnny Rockets at his penultimate start.
He ran unplaced in this race last year.
Darryl Hodgson’s Putney Flyer came back to his best last time with a good win over Gothic in the 3200m Listed Kenilworth Cup.
The son of Miesque’s Approval is 3kgs worse off with Gothic on that run and is out on the handicap.
Marshall Duo
Gothic – consistent and overdue for next win
Gothic is a model of consistency but is the kind of horse who just cannot get his head in front.
Veteran jockey Karl Neisius would have got the hang of him by now, and he cannot be discounted if things go his way.
Vaughan Marshall’s second runner is Tribal Dance, who has not run since finishing unplaced behind Disco Al in the Algoa Cup, seven weeks ago.
On best form, he has shown class and good staying ability, but appears quite highly rated on an MR of 101 and may be more competitive later on in the season.
Master
Joey Ramsden trains Coltrane, who looks unlikely to feature
It is odd to see Joey Ramsden with a relatively weak hand in this race – he is a master trainer of stayers and Coltrane is definitely not amongst his better ones.
The son Giant’s Causeway was not persevered with last time and was pulled out of the race won by Putney Flyer.
He looks unlikely to bounce back here.
Justin Snaith’s Current Event has found prime form, registering his third win on the trot when flashing up late last time in an MR 78 handicap to collar Even So.
He is in under sufferance, but has done the majority of his campaigning in the Eastern Cape , which allows us the assumption that his rating is somewhat skewed.
It remains a jump in class for him and he will find this a lot tougher.
Handy Weight
S’manga Khumalo – in town and rides Surruptitious
S’manga Khumalo has been engaged for the ride on Mike Stewart’s free-striding Overlord gelding, Surruptitious.
A consistent six-time winner, Surruptitious carries a handy 52 kgs and while we are not convinced he stays the 2500m, he looks a nice quartet kicker.
Carl Burger’s Dynasty’s Pride is a solid four-time winner. Her formline suggests that she may be a better prospect in winter and is well held by Putney Flyer.
Pacesetter
An interesting staying contest, where the lightweights may be the ones to side with.
There is no guaranteed pace in the race, but Dynastic Power is very classy and has won at 1200m – he thus has the pace to overcome a dawdle.
Putney Flyer found best form after a long drought and could go in again.
Wavin’ Flag and Gothic are consistent.
