A competitive looking sprint handicap opens the page on the 2016 Gauteng feature programme at Turffontein today. After his confidence boosting last win, it may pay to follow Louis Goosen’s One Man’s Dream as a potential winner of the R250 000 Gr3 Lebelo Sprint.
Goosen’s One Man’s Dream – carries top weight
Andrew Fortune teamed up with the talented 5yo son of Greys Inn who scored his first victory in over a year when running on stoutly to ward off the attentions of Moofeed over Saturday’s course and distance.
Coming in with 60kgs in a mixed bag nine horse field, he has a little more to do now and meets Tiger Territory on 1,5kgs worse for a 1,50 length beating last time.
Tiger Territory was a proven sand performer before the demise of the Vaal alternate surface , but he is no slouch on the turf and is always dangerous when chasing them late.
His stablemate Wisaam is a lightly raced son of More Than Ready, who has won two of his four starts.
Muzi Yeni partners the unexposed 3yo as he steps up in class. If the top stable has sorted out the respiratory noise he made when chasing Manx Park home on Christmas Eve, he may be worth including.
Roy Magner’s hardknocking Kahal gelding Greasepaint has lost the sparkling edge of his form of three months ago.
At best he could run this lot down, and should be watched as he drops down his handicap mark.
Paul Peter – saddles Mod Barley
Paul Peter’s Mod Barley always shows good pace and seldom runs far behind.
He finished 3,40 lengths off Brutal Force in the Merchants and looks better than a three-time winner at this stage of the game.
His runs to Doing It For Dan in the Golden Loom and to Zambezi Trip prior to that are a measure of his real ability and the son of Antonius Pius is a danger in a closely contested event.
Sean Tarry’s Arabian National is back from KZN where he won two of his five starts. Both of those were on the polytrack though and he looks held on his Joburg turf form.
Grant Maroun’s speedy Mullins Bay gelding Viking Hero is always thereabouts and was down to run this past Tuesday at Turffontein.
His run there should be monitored and he will certainly strip a fit horse if he takes his place here. He is a course and distance specialist and must be taken seriously.
The speedy Jo Malone is the only filly in the race and looks a likely pacesetter.
The daughter of Tiger Ridge registered her last win on the sand and may be best for a quartet back end berth.
Leon Erasmus’ Supanova is also a proven sand horse – his only two wins have come on that surface.
He contested a lowly rated handicap over the course and distance last time and lost a shoe when finishing a well beaten 6,10 lengths behind Carter.
In typical handicap fashion, there is not too much to choose between the majority of them.
Mike De Kock’s Wisaam has only his fifth start and could be the biggest headache for Andrew Fortune as he gets 7kgs from the Goosen runner.
Greasepaint is due to find his earning legs again and Tiger Territory and Mod Barley are both capable of securing top honours.
