Supercede could be a banker on Tuesday
Jockey Sean Cormack and trainer Pat Lunn are something of a rare combination together but have performed well individually on the Greyville polytrack. They team up on Tuesday with the consistent Stronghold filly Supercede, who looks a serious contender for top honours in the day’s topliner.
There was some uncertainty following the Greyville polytrack meeting last Tuesday and after riding six of the eight winners between them, both Sean Cormack and Anton Marcus expressed concerns.
Marcus, who grabbed a four-timer suggested that the track was acting more like a sand surface than a polytrack. Cormack also appeared to be unimpressed.
The stipes report subsequently indicated that the start of the fourth race was delayed to allow for the entire track to be harrowed.
While the maintenance and general management of the surface is a learning curve for all involved, there is bound to be more news on this and particularly since we have learnt reliably as we went to press that the operator was meeting with the contractor.
Difficult
Sean Cormack rides the Lunn filly
While the form profiles are starting to make some sense, particularly when it comes to following certain yards, Tuesday’s ten race programme looks a trappy affair.
An exotic banker may well be offered in the form of Supercede, who starts as topweight in the sixth race, an MR 85 Divided Handicap for fillies and mares run over the mile.
Only eight runners are carded and the Yellow Star Stud-bred filly looks a solid bet.
A winner of 3 of her 10 starts, two of her last three starts have produced excellent efforts on the surface.
Her short head loss to the classy Cape raider Hijacked, in receipt of just a half kilo over 200m further was followed by a good turf run, and then a solid course and distance third behind Resolution.
She loves the mile, enjoys the surface and is a model of consistency. The blinkers are removed after just one try.
Inside Info
Cormack will know one of his main opponents very well.
She is the Windrush mare Tara Dawn, who has changed trainer and ownership. She raced in the Knut Haug silks and campaigned for Dennis Drier previously and now has her first start for Belinda Impey.
She was baulked at her one and only poly run when 2,95 lengths behind Resolution.
Frank Firing
Frank Robinson is one of the local trainers who has had many winners already on the poly.
He saddles the Miesque’s Approval mare Sounds Positive, who has shown pace in three commendable surface efforts.
Her last win was over a mile, and she could prove dangerous if allowed to dictate matters from her 1 draw.
Owner Roy Moodley has had a cracking run with his mostly Australian-bred runner s and his Rock Of Gibraltar mare Royal Nisha ran a smart course and distance third behind Ethylene a fortnight ago.
Ramp Diva was beaten 5,90 lengths behind Resolution last time and is held by Supercede on that effort.
She still needs to prove that she can lift her poly game to the level of her smart turf form.
On Transfer
Yogas Govender brings the Jet Master mare The Morrigan up from Rondeberg on the Cape West Coast and she has her first run on this surface.
A two-time winner from 18 starts, she stayed on well to be beaten narrowly by the evergreen Kind Lady last time on soft ground at Durbanville.
That was her best effort for a while, but on her best form behind the likes of Mohave Princess, must have a place shout.
Shadlee Fortune
Modest
Sean Tarry has engaged 4kg claiming apprentice Shadlee Fortune to partner the grey Regents Agency.
The 4yo daughter of Albert Hall earned plenty of place money as she took 12 runs to shed her maiden.
She was found not striding out last time on the Vaal sand, and was not persevered with. She needs to improve to feature.
As does Guest El Grande, who has shown nothing to recommend her of late.
Banker
On a day where bankers are patently few and far between, Sean Cormack looks ready to deliver for backers of Supercede.
Fit and well, she has plenty in her favour.
Her main dangers could be provided by the free-striding Sounds Positive and the lightly raced Royal Nisha.
