On what could be a rewarding day for the championship title chasing team, Justin Snaith saddles a trio of runners in the R300 000 Gr3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup.
It is no secret that the improving Made To Conquer could book a Vodacom Durban July supplementary entry berth with a big run here.
The progressive Made To Conquer wins at Scottsville
A smashing son of Dynasty, Made To Conquer has gone from strength to strength since being bought off the August Kenilworth Sale last year as a maiden for just R180 000.
A winner of his last three races, Made To Conquer made an eyecatching local debut when beating the highly vaunted Silva’s Bullet with ease at Scottsville earlier this month . A winner of a low-key handicap over 2500m at Kenilworth in December, he will stay every inch of this trip and looks a major contender under Richard Fourie. He could find himself in the July ante-post come next Monday!
Strathdon wins Woolavington (Chase Liebenberg Photography)
Snaith’s other two are Strathdon, and the older Captain Splendid, who won this race last year. The latter carries topweight in this field and failed to fire in the 1900 when just 5 lengths off stablemate Elusive Silva. He will be much fitter and better over this track and trip and is a sometimes enigmatic sort, who cannot be discounted.
Strathdon also ran in the 1900 where he was outpaced after returning from a six month break. This smart emerging stayer won four on the trot prior to that down in the Cape and was highly spoken about as a possible July horse earlier this year. He is one to watch.
Brett Crawford – form stable
Brett Crawford’s Highland Night Cup winner Hero Quest is a sturdy front-running sort who has won his last two and continues to improve. The son of Ideal World (doesn’t he just continue to catch the eye!), the Mauritzfontein bred galloper has won 5 of his 13 starts and is at his peak of his career as a 5yo.
Sean Tarry’s Hyaku is a half kilo better off with Hero Quest who beat him 2,75 lengths in the Highland Night Cup. The son Of Admire Main was fourth behind Captain Splendid in this race last year and has not won in close on a year.
Stablemate – and likely stable elect – Shenanigans has been scractched.
Alec Laird makes a rare visit to KZN with the fair stayer Sheet Weaver, who has consistent Gauteng form, without setting the world alight. The son of Ideal World could assert himself if adapting to the Greyville track for the first time.
Mr Winsome
The once reliable Mr Winsome, considered good enough to run in the 2017 July, is off form and showed nothing in a pipe-opener in the Sledgehammer last time. At his best the son of Silvano could make them run, but he would need to find his form of last term.
Paul Gadsby
Paul Gadsby’s Techno Captain has lost his better earlier form and will need a major turnaround to feature.
Liquid Rainbow hasn’t won in close on a year – and then on the poly – and he tries to build on his staying on fourth (3,25 lengths) in the Highland Night Cup. His earlier third behind July candidate Dark Moon Rising was a good run and he could be better than rated as an improving 4yo stayer.
Viento looks outclassed here and his better form is on the polytrack.
Silver De Lange is another who hails from the form yard of Andre Nel and ran a decent three length third in the Highland Night Cup. He is drawn wide but could be dangerous as a solid stayer off the 52 kgs mark.
Made To Conquer is the choice to beat Hero Quest and Strathdon. But it’s a tricky race and Mr Winsome and Captain Splendid are the proven campaigners.
