Dingaans winner Silver Flyer should appreciate the extra
The third of four Gr1 events to be run on Champion’s Day, the SA Derby forms the final leg of South Africa’s Triple Crown. Only the legendary Horse Chestnut has been able to win all three legs thus far and although once again the R2M bonus will not be won, it will take a top sort to win it.
The highest rated of the thirteen set to go to post is the Mike De Kock trained Silver Flyer. This son of Silvano impressed when winning the Gr2 Dingaans and he was finishing as well as the winner when running on from off the pace to finish runner up in the Gr1 Cape Guineas next time out. In comparison, he was a little disappointing when finishing a 3,75 lengths seventh in the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas after a two month break in February, but he did then show his well being when running on stoutly to take third from a poor draw in the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Gr1 SA Classic over 1800m here last time out. Although Silver Flyer now travels 650m further than he has previously, his style of racing does suggest that he will get the extra. He commands a very powerful turn of foot and with plenty of scope for further improvement in this his third run after the rest, he has to be a very serious runner.
Ice Trigger
As well as Silver Flyer, our globetrotting champion trainer is also represented by the improving Western Winter gelding Ice Trigger. He showed little in his four starts prior to shedding his maiden tag over 2000m in January, but since then he has been going from strength to strength. Ice Trigger gets every inch of today’s trip as he showed when staying on strongly to take second position just a length and a quarter behind Soul Master in a pinnacle event over 2600m last time out. He could make the frame.
Pomodoro
Pomodoro was only beaten a short head in the Gr1 SA Classic last time out
The only other coupling in the race is that of Sean Tarry. He saddles all of Pomodoro, E-Jet, Baracah and Peregrine and clearly holds a very strong hand.
Highly regarded from day one, Pomodoro was beaten fair and square by Silver Flyer when fourth in the Dingaans back in November, but in their two subsequent meetings in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, this son of Jet Master has reversed the placings. As with Silver Flyer, Pomodoro attempts the trip for the first time here. He too ran on particularly strongly in that latest outing though, and with further improvement likely to be forthcoming, he looks sure to fight it out.
E-Jet
Prior to finishing eighth of twelve in the Gr3 Tony Ruffel Stakes, the Jet Master colt E-Jet had been showing good improvement with each outing. This son of Jet Master was returning from a near three month break in that event though and next time out in the Guineas he had excuses as he was drawn very wide. He had earlier finished just 2,6 lengths behind his stable companion Pomodoro in the Guineas Trial at Clairwood and interestingly, he was only 1,9 lengths behind that one in the SA Classic last time out. If getting the extra he should be thereabouts again.
Baracah
The King Of Kings colt Baracah impressed when making all to shed his maiden tag over 1200m back in July, but since then he’s failed to find the winner’s enclosure in eight starts. He has in all fairness been keeping good company and his two most recent efforts in the first two legs of this series were very creditable ones. He does look well held on those efforts though and there has to be doubts about him seeing out the extra.
Perigrine
The dark horse from the stable is Perigrine. This son of Strike Smartly impressed when winning over 1700m in just his second career start and he did then finish best of all when only beaten a length and a half by Pomodoro in a graduation event over 1800m next time out. In comparison he was a little disappointing in his next two outings, but he did then catch the eye when staying on strongly behind Zambucca in the 2000m Derby Trial last time out. Perigrine could improve plenty over the extra ground here and if there is to be a major upset in the race, he could well be it.
Brooks-Club
Another with upset potential is the Strike Smartly colt Brooks-Club. Gavin Van Zyl’s charge commands a fair turn of foot on his day and has shown flashes of real ability. Indeed, he had the likely market leaders Silver Flyer and Pomodoro behind him when running on strongly to take second position in the Gauteng Guineas and he was drawn wide when running on behind those two in the SA Classic last time out. The extra 650m here can only aid his cause and effective on both good and soft ground, he has to be a runner here.
Blaze Of Fire
The only raider from out of town is Blaze Of Fire who makes the long journey from Port Elizabeth. Yvette Bremner’s charge is up there with the best of his generation in the Eastern Cape and he did put in a very gutsy effort on his previous sortie to Gauteng when third in the prestigious Ready To Run Cup over 1400m in November. Usually one to race up with or close to the speed though, Blaze Of Fire is yet to race beyond 1600m and more often than not run out of it late, he’s likely to find a few too good down this long home straight, even if getting the extra.
Zambucca
Zambucca - improving with every race
A winner of three of his eleven starts to date, the Lundy’s Liability colt Zambucca is not far off the best here on his day. A runner up to the subsequent SA Classic winner Slumdogmillionaire in the listed Sea Cottage Stakes in January, Zambucca has shown improvement with each step up in distance and he did record his best rating to date in our book when winning the Derby Trial over 2000m last time out.
Wagner
Since shedding his maiden tag over 1400m in September, Joey Soma’s charge has silently been progressing nicely. He is held by Zambucca on his latest outing in the Derby Trial, but he is now 2kg better off at the weights with that one and he did beat him in his previous start when landing the listed Secretariat Stakes. There should be little between them.
Royal Bencher
At first glance the son of Grey’s Inn would look to have a bit to find here having won nothing greater than a graduation plate, but that doesn’t quite tell the whole story. An easy winner of his first two starts in 2012, Alec Laird’s charge was clearly well below best in the Egoli Mile next time out as in his only subsequent start, when again winning with authority, he had runners who finished ahead of him in that event well behind him. Further improvement looks sure to be forthcoming and with champion jockey Anton Marcus in the saddle, he must hold some kind of a chance if getting the extra.
The Club King
Terry Lowe’s charge cruised in by six when shedding his maiden tag in his penultimate start, but that was his seventh outing and in truth he met a very moderate bunch. He had excuses having been out at the weights when well beaten by Soul Master in a pinnacle event last time out, but even so his presence here does look a bit ambitious.
Changing Moon
Another to win in moderate maiden company albeit over today’s course and distance is Changing Moon and interestingly, he did have The Club King half a length behind him that day. He ran a fair fifth to Atyeb after losing three lengths at the start in the listed Aquanaut Handicap over today’s trip in his first post maiden start, but having failed to get within seventeen lengths of a winner in his two subsequent outings, he cannot seriously be considered here.
About The Pace
With a fair number of the runners preferring to race up with, or close to the speed, at least a fair pace should be forthcoming here. Combined with the long galloping straight of the old stand side track, that will suit those running on. Silver Flyer and Pomodoro look the most likely to fight it out, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the dark horse Perigrine fulfilled early potential. Silver Flyer has impressed the most thus far though and on that it is he who is narrowly preferred.
