Today’s local racemeeting takes place at Turffontein on the Standside course with the first on the nine-race programme due off at 12h20 and the lucky last set for 17h03.
South Africa’s joint highest rated racehorse alongside KZN champion See It Again, Tony Peter’s Main Defender will be the star attraction at Turffontein today when he steps out in the 16h25, a R120 000 Pinnacle Stakes over 1400m under new jockey, Muzi Yeni.
Main Defender – big runner today (Pic – JC Photos)
“He has filled out beautifully and is looking like a proper racehorse now,” Frankie Zackey told the Sporting Post, as the accomplished son of Pathfork looks to round off his 3yo term in style and show that his last outing in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge was all wrong.
Main Defender lumbers joint topweight of 62kgs with the classy 6yo Bingwa and is unbeaten from three starts over today’s track and trip.
Muzi Yeni is booked to ride him for the first time and he should register his eighth victory at his eleventh start.
Main Defender gets some love and inspiration this week (Pic – Supplied)
When taxed on the rationale behind the change of rider from Calvin Habib to the red-hot Muzi Yeni, who coincidentally booted home four winners at Fairview yesterday, Frankie Zackey said that they felt it time to take the pressure off Habib and give the enthusiastic Yeni a chance on a horse they have big plans for next term.
“We felt that Calvin is not at his top-class best at the moment. There must be a lot of pressure riding for a yard where a lot is expected. That surely must take its toll. Riding all over the place must also be extremely tiring and stressful.I salute the likes of Richard, Muzi Yeni and others that travel. I remember when I was Agent to Weichong Marwing, he never enjoyed the travelling. It eventually drains one out mentally and physically. We know that Main Defender is a pressure horse and felt it would be unfair to add more added pressure on Calvin. We could be way off with our thinking, but let’s hope it goes well today,” concluded the dyed-in-the-wool racing man.
Trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren sends out Time Fo Orchids in Race 7.
She ran a creditable race when fourth in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint last time.
She has won twice and finished second once from four starts on this course.
The daughter of Time Thief is the class horse in this contest, and she should find herself in the winner’s enclosure.
Autumn Var from the Tyrone Zackey stable takes her place in Race 3. She showed some improvement when fourth over this course and distance last time.
She should have finished closer to the winner that day as she hung in the final 300m.
The daughter of Var is a progressive type and if keeping on a straight line, she should be involved at the finish.
| Weather | Mostly sunny, 5-22 degs, 15-43 km/h north westerly cross/head wind. Sunset at 5:40pm | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall | Last 24 Hours: Nil | Last 7 Days: Nil | |
| Irrigation | Last 24 Hours: Nil | Last 7 Days: 12mm | |
| Penetrometer Reading | 20 | ||
| Track Condition | Good | ||
| False Rail | Zero on the back straight to 3.5m on the bend with a 3.5m spur at the 700m mark; Start forward of zero: 11m | ||
- The Bipot starts in the second race at 12h55
- The Place Accumulator starts in the third race at 13h30
- The Pick 6 starts in the fourth race at 14h05
- The first Jackpot starts in the fifth race at 14h40
- The second Jackpot starts in the sixth race at 15h15
