Consistent! Var’s smart son Contador looks the part in Saturday’s Gr3 Man O’ War Sprint
The old proven team of Charles Laird and Anton Marcus bring Var’s fast son Contador to Turffontein to contest the R200 000 Gr3 Man O’ War Sprint on Saturday. Besides providing Pick Six punters with a banker to close the exotic, they are also likely to carry the only serious KZN winning hopes of the afternoon.
The pairing of Marcus and Laird were riding a wave of glorious success just a matter of a few years ago, until the powerful Jooste empire diversified and rationalised into supporting a trainer in every port as it were.
While the combination regularly tick over down KZN way still, it is lovely to see them venturing back into the lion’s den up North with an outstanding 3yo sprinter.
Looks Strong
Speedy. The Imperial Stride gelding Nice Stride is very fast
Contador looks well handicapped here off his 100 merit rating and this winner of 4 of 9 races has shown blistering speed and outstanding ability in the course of his year long career.
He has previously travelled with excellent results. That was his trip to Vereening in September last year when he contested the NBT Sophomore 1000. In a dazzling display they never sighted him as he came home lonely to beat Mogok’s Desire by 9,25 lengths in fast time.
Strangely that was Contador’s solitary exposure to the sand and he contests this 3yo sprint after being upstaged by the older seasoned campaigner Captain’s Secret in the Marula Sprint run at Clairwood at the end of January. Captain’s Secret gave him 3kgs and a 4,75 length walloping, but Contador will be far more at ease against his own age group in this race.
Unlocking Value
The key to the outcome of this event ironically appears to lie in the formline of a race named in honour of Contador’s illustrious sire, Var. The Var Gold Rush Sprint run three weeks ago, ended in a good victory for Leon Erasmus’ Imperial Stride gelding, Nice Stride. Erasmus fields a five way coupling, so holds a very strong hand.
Six of the horses that ran behind Nice Stride meet him again here. He beat Paul Peter’s consistent Strongmind by 0,75 lengthsand meets him on 1 kg better terms. Roy Magner’s Cookie Monster ran third 1,25 lengths back and is a half kilo better off with Nice Stride. His general form profile is very good and while he may prefer a further 200m to show his best paces, he could well be finishing late.
Desirable
Threat. Course and distance winner Mogok’s Desire is always worth including
An interesting runner is Sherman Brown’s ride Mogok’s Desire, who is 2kgs better off with Nice Stride for a 1,75 length beating. Another Erasmus runner in Zuccarelli is all of 2,5 kgs better off after being beaten just two lengths, while Stavinsky is a kilo better off for his 3 length defeat.
Louis Goosen’s De Var Hyt is a little in and out, and finished nine lengths back in the Gold Rush Sprint. He is a kilo better off with Nice Stride, which may not be enough to turn a reversal.
Mike Azzie’s Yukon Gold bounced back to best last time with the blinkers fitted when scoring a smooth 2,50 length win in an MR 89 Handicap over the Vaal 1200m.
Visitor
The Zimbabwean visitor Newton Power has won 3 of his 5 starts by an aggregate of over 14 lengths, and looks a very promising youngster. He won his debut over 1000m by over ten lengths, and while the strength of the opposition is very difficult to assess against our locals, his wellbeing will have to be taken on trust
The only two fillies in the race are the Corne Spies trained Rebel Queen and Brain Wiid’s unbeaten Alcanina. They should struggle to assert themselves against the boys.
Travel
Contador has shown previously that he can travel and has outstanding form to his credit. He is confidently selected to register a first stakes win at the expense of Mogok’s Desire and Nice Stride.
