Yes To The Poly!

Tuscan ran a cracker on the surface on July day and looks set to go one better

The local trainers have obviously realised that a quality synthetic track outstrips a troubled turf surface on any day and have come to the party on a surface that has the added benefit of being horse-friendly.

Spectacle

Four of the twelve races run on July day were held on the polytrack and besides the ongoing technical concerns, the races all produced competitive contests and thrilling finishes.

It is also interesting to see how often winners come from off the pace and that alone provides for an entertainment spectacle. That will hopefully go some way to attracting betting interest after punters made a shaky start to life in the poly lane.

Our featured race of the day is the jackpot opener, the MR 96 Handicap run over the 1400m where a field of eleven includes some budding classy sorts.

The major quandary is that they run on the synthetic track for the first time and their adaptability will be key to the outcome.

Greyville Polytrack Trials – Martin Collins takes clegg-hammer reading

Lightly Raced

Chief amongst these is the lightly raced Argonaut gelding, Copybook, who comes out on top of our ratings. With so few runs in a year of racing and the added concern of his changing legs in the KRA Guineas when 9,25 lengths behind July winner Legislate, tell us that he is not without his problems.

But while only a one-time winner from his seven starts, he has run in strong company features in three of those and did not produce bad efforts.

His fifth only 2,35 lengths behind Forest Indigo on July day over the Greyville 1400m (turf) stands out amongst those performances and he showed his fitness when a 3,50 lengths third behind Silva Hawk over 1500m at Scottsville last month.

Cracker

The year older Tuscan ran a cracker on July day on this surface when only overtaken late by a flying Isobar.

The Argentinian bred son of Storm Cat stallion Easing Along would only need to find some of his better earlier form to have a serious winning shout here. Sean Veale rides him from a good draw.

Mike Miller’s Albert ran third there just over a half length behind Tuscan , but is 2,5kgs worse off (assuming Donvan Dillon can reach his full claim) and should be held.

Vaughan Marshall’s Exelero gets the blinkers fitted

Classy 3yo

Vaughan Marshalll’s classy Western Winter 3yo Exelero cost R1 million at sale but has not quite produced the fireworks on the track.

The Lammerskraal Stud bred gelding just failed to hold the capable Sail South (he ran 4,55 lengths behind Lockheed Jetstar in the July consolation on Saturday) at Scottsville last time and now gets a set of blinkers to help him focus.

With his natural pace and the blinkers, he looks ready to run a big race and chalk up an overdue third win.

The second of the Marshall runners in the Captain Al gelding Captain’s Reserve, who comes off a 15 week rest.

The Gr1 placed Klawervlei Stud bred carries a handy galloping weight but fitness is naturally a consideration.

Penalty

Yogas Govender’s Jet Master gelding Lake Arthur has continued to pay the ‘price’ for running within 1,50 lengths pf champion Beach Beauty in a Conditions Plate at Kenilworth last October when giving the Dynasty mare 3kgs.

He is slowly coming down the ratings and has the class, if adapting to the poly, to give them a fright here. They may mean business as he has the blinkers fitted.

Anton Marcus rides Delaware Bay for Charles Laird. The son of Mogok dropped out after showing pace in the Consolation July and needs to up his game to feature here.

First Time

With the majority of the field stepping out on the track for the first time, punters should tread warily.

The class 3yo’s Copybook and Exelero could have the most scope, but it is difficult to ignore the prospects of the year older Tuscan who ran such a cracker on July day.

He is a narrow vote to hold Copybook, wth Exelero an obvious danger.