Driving Seat.The Gr1 SA Classic winner Love Struck should go close when running fresh at Turffontein on Saturday
A Gr1 winner returns to action and makes his seasonal debut in the Pinnacle Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday. The smart Kahal gelding Love Struck now flies under the Charles Laird banner and has his first outing since a dismal effort in the Vodacom Durban July. Like his brilliant rider on Saturday, this race may prove to be a fresh new start, with a view on a long season ahead.
The absence of a stakes feature on the national programme for this coming weekend means that we are focussing on Turffontein and a rather competitive quality R 115 000 Mr R Mathunyane Pinnacle Stakes powered by Peugeot.
Legend
The field of nine that will slog it out over the Turffontein inside track 1450m is dramatically enhanced by the presence of SA Classic winner Love Struck, who will be partnered by the legendary Andrew Fortune.
The race forms part of the Expro Charity Day and the famous French motor brand, symbolised by the instantly recognisable leaping lion, are the supporting sponsor. The original Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles to start with. A far cry from their world class motor vehicles of today.
Sport & Friends
Expro is the brainchild of ex-footballer and successful businessman, John Louch, who had a vision close on two decades ago of getting ex-sportsmen together and having a social lunch and a few beers.
That was way back in 1996, with familiar names like Gary Bailey, Tiger Lance, Cyril Mitchley, the late Rossie Hill, and other ex-Sportsmen and Springboks, including Kevin de Klerk, Syd Nomis, John Robbie, Clive Rice and Hugh Bladen.
From a power base of 30 to 40 in those early days, the organisation has grown today to number hundreds of people united in the spirit of sport and friendship, and that contributes to those in need.
Charity
Prodigal Son. Gr1 Golden Horseshoe winner War Horse returns to action and has the class and ability to upset
Ironically, a lionhearted charitable man rides our first choice in this race. The word has been out for some weeks that the born and bred Capetonian Andrew Fortune would be trying his luck in Gauteng, after an extended dry spell down South.
The man known that the public love to love, and even hate at times,often outgrows small cities, and now moves to the City Of Gold. He left Johannesburg for Cape Town after an injury to Pierre Jourdan in late 2010. He partners Love Struck for the very first time, in the gelding’s first outing for Charles Laird.
Transfer
Formerly with Paul Lafferty at Summerveld, the horse has been transferred, along with others, by his owner Alesh Naidoo. These things happen in a competitive game, and it is said that a change is as good as a holiday. If that recipe works, Love Struck is the class horse in the race and is weighted to win. A strong pacy sort, he jumps from a 2 draw in a small field with a true master of pace and poker in the saddle, and could go all the way. That is, if not needing the outing.
Love Struck ran quite prominently before fading out in the July, and his last win was at this track when scoring a dramatic win in the Gr1 SA Classic over 1800m. That was an unlikely win from a horse who has generally been said to be at his top end over 1800m. The jury has been out for some time as to where his optimum trip lies, and we feel that this may well be it.
Battle Cry
If something is to beat Love Struck, War Horse may fit the role. The prodigal son of Victory Moon has fairly smart course and distance form, but also has a question mark over his fitness, not having raced since an unplaced bash in the Jubilee Handicap on 9 June. War Horse ran on strongly for a 2,50 length fourth behind Love Struck in the SA Classic and could be dangerous coming out fresh.
Fit Fellow
Fit Fellow. The King Of Kings gelding Baracah may prefer it 200m further, but is capable at best
One runner who will have no fitness qualms is Sean Tarry’s King Of Kings gelding, Baracah. While probably at his best over 200m further, he ran on strongly to win an MR 97 Handicap over a mile beating the former Snaith charge, Spitfire Run, last time out. Sherman Brown rides Dual Asset for Ormond Ferraris.
The son of Lundy’s Liability may be held by Baracah on their last meeting, but won his third last start over the course and distance under Jackson Feni, going away by seven lengths against lesser company.
Need The Run
Geoff Woodruff’s smart Impresa may have further scope to improve even further, even though he has a tough task with Love Struck, despite his apprentice allowance. He has also not run for some four months. The son of Victory Moon is perfectly distance suited and could give them a fright if he gets lucky.
Karl Zechner and Spike Lerena team up with the one time winning Black Minnaloushe gelding, American Storm. The 4yo returns after running second last behind champion Vercingetorix in the Gr1 Daily News 2000, and will need to up his game dramatically to have any chance of winning.
Lightly Raced
The Mike De Kock trained Emerald Approach has not been seen in action since running just over nine lengths adrift of Love Struck in the SA Classic. He is a lightly raced and fair sort on his day, but should need a run or two to get him back to match fitness.
Royal Zulu Warrior is a troubled sort, who has done little since shocking in the Lebelo Sprint on New Year’s night. He looks highly unlikely. The same would apply to the Barend Botes trained Mabuko Spirit, who has not won in ages and looks outclassed here.
Question Mark
Fitness and readiness for action is a question mark against most of the field. Baracah, Dual Asset and the no hoper Mabuko Spirit, are the only three that have been seen out this season. Love Struck is a class act and is a powerful frontrunner, who could go out and make all.
He could get away with any lack of fitness after his break. The rest look pressed to get to him, although War Horse, Baracah and Impresa could force him to pick up his feet. It should be interesting to watch Fortune play them on the break!
