A quality 2600m staying contest heads a well patronised Turffontein Thursday eight-race programme today.
Geoff Woodruff’s plucky Gr2 Gold Bowl winner Arch Rival carries joint top weight and if not needing it too much, should go close.
Arch Rival’s trainer Geoff Woodruff – turned 60 on Tuesday
Sadly we don’t breed for staying class in South Africa and the downgrading of our premier marathon, the Gold Cup, from Gr1 to Gr2 is further confirmation that any facilitation in changes in attitude is not a priority.
Coupled with a thin programme for the longhaulers, the situation looks unlikely to be reversed any time soon.
But back to Thursday.
Solid Stayer
Arch Rival seen winning the Gold Bowl – he must be a massive runner here
Arch Rival, who is part -owned by KZN trainer Robbie Hill, but races out of the Geoff Woodruff yard in the North, is a Summerhill bred son of A P Arrow who has not seen action since running just over 5 lengths off Enaad in the Gold Gup 10 weeks ago. In his favour is the fact that he has shown himself to be able to come out fresh and run a good race.
Interestingly, Arch Rival had given the subsequent Gold Cup winner Enaad 4,5kgs and a beating at his penultimate start.
The course and distance winner has won 6 races from 28 starts and with in-form Gavin Lerena up, will be right there.
Scott Kenny’s Storm Warning is in good form
Another solid stayer, and a fit and form one at that, is the year older Jet Master gelding Storm Warning.
He transferred to Scott Kenny after the closure of the Dom Zaki yard in December 2015 and won his first race for his new boss when running on strongly over Thursday’s course and distance to beat The Elmo Effect. That was on 24 September and this solid stayer (who interestingly has never manager a stakes win), will keep Arch Rival honest.
Versatile
Mike de Kock has two in the race.
Mike De Kock – Kinaan looks best of his two
The Australian-bred Kinaan ran a cracking third to his stablemate in the Gold Cup and showed his fitness – and versatility – with an eyecatching second to the talented Africa Rising in a 1450m Graduation Plate last Thursday.
That is a dream prep for a solid staying sort and there will be plenty of support for the Galileo 4yo.
His stablemate Talbec – also an Australian bred 4yo – has less impressive form and cannot be fancied.
Zafira is one of three fairer sex challengers in the race and this stakes performed daughter of Silvano stayed on when 4,55 lengths back on the Gold Cup.
She is yet to win beyond 2450m but everything points to a massive effort from her.
Gary ALexander’s yard has been in top form and his pair of The Elmo Effect and the 6yo A P Arrow mare Coby both stay well.
The Elmo Effect has been knocking hard for a fourth win.
Azzie Duo
Anthony Delpech – key engagement for Penteliko
Mike Azzie has two runners and Anthony Delpech’s engagement for Penteliko may be worth nothing.
This course and distance winner has scope for further improvement, even though he may be held by The Elmo Effect at the weight turnaround of his penultimate run.
All told, this should be a lovely visual spectacle to enjoy, a fact made so much more pleasant if you’re backing the winner.
We are siding with Arch Rival to hold Kinaan and Storm Warning. A genuine upset looks unlikely.
