Harry’s Son is led in after his Super Saturday win
The 2013/14 Equus Champion colt Harry’s Son returns from a break following his terrific Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes victory at Greyville on Super Saturday. He contests the R250 000 Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes at Turffontein today and stands out as the only Gr1 winner in the field. But how ready is he and will he hold De Kock’s Jayyed at the weights?
Harry’s Son is an Australian-bred son of Coolmore stallion Haradasun and his connections had big ideas to raid the Cape before plans to travel were scuppered by a 40-day ban on travel imposed by the state veterinarians due to a horse having tested positive for African Horse Sickness at Summerveld .
High Esteem
Obviously dependant on how he goes on Saturday, his connections have not ruled out a tilt at the Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas on December 20 at Kenilworth, the race that was apparently his original target.
An idea of the esteem in which he is held is word that If he is able to make it for the Guineas he is likely to stay on for the Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby over 2000m on J&B Met day, at end January.
While he is no racing certainty, Harry’s Son has plenty in his favour.
Favourable
Paul Lafferty – pressure raid
Drawn at pole position, with Piere Strydom up, there is no evidence to suggest that the change of travel plans has interfered in any way with his prep and while he comes in off a 14 week rest, his Group form elevates his status.
His win at Greyville was all the more meritorious as he cast a shoe on the way to post and yet coped with his major test.
Lafferty has not won many Gr1’s in his training career (he may argue that he doesn’t have the owner buying power) and in fact achieved his first at the same away venue in March last year when Alesh Naidoo’s Love Struck survived some late drama in the race to win the Gr1 SA Classic.
Laff was away at the Dubai World Cup at the time. Will he travel to Turffontein on Saturday, or will he throw superstition to the wind?
De Kock Threat
Mike De Kock could spoil the KZN dream raid with a maiden.
Jayyed ran a fast finishing second to Harry’s Son in the Super Saturday Gr1 and technically holds him in receipt of a dealmaking 4,5kgs for a head defeat.
The son of showed top-class potential at his first two outings and looks a good sort in the making.
Lucky Houdalakis’ Raise The Red has won 2 of his last 3 starts on the sand but won on debut over the minimum trip on turf. His wide draw will not aid his cause.
Sean Tarry’s Trip To Heaven was a fluent winner at his second start when dropping his maiden field by 7,75 lengths. He is drawn alongside Harry’s Son and S’manga Khumalo was full of praise for him – he will also strip fit.
Robbie Hill also travels up from Summerveld with recent Greyville poly winner Bengal Boy. The son of Tiger Ridge has drawn in the parking lot and will need plenty of luck.
Challenge
Jayyed looks likely to give Harry’s Son a serious run for his money and could hold the edge, with Trip To Heaven the unknown factor over the mile.
It should be a fascinating race.
Graham Beck: One Of The Big Five
Graham Beck
This feature is named in honour of one of South Africa’s great owners, whose famous brown and white silks are still carried by horses owned by his wife.
One of the last of South Africa’s rough and tough mining entrepreneurs, self-made billionaire Graham Beck, passed away in London in July 2010 at just four months short of 81.
A Capetonian by birth and education Beck was best known internationally for the high quality wines which carry his name.
Apart from his wine farms, Beck also owned South Africa’s leading thoroughbred breeding farm Highlands and a property development company in Israel.
He was survived by his wife of 50 years, Rhona, and son Antony Beck, who owns and runs the famous Gainesway Stud Farm in America’s thoroughbred capital, Kentucky.
Beck imported a lot of very well bred mares to replenish the Highlands Stud breeding stock.
One of the country’s ‘Big Five’ owners (along with the late Bridget Oppenheimer; her daughter Mary Slack; and industrialists Markus Jooste and Chris van Niekerk) he was a cornerstone buyer at many a yearling sale.
