Best Rated. The grey Oratorio gelding Ottimo looks a big threat under Piere Strydom in Friday’s Listed East Cape Guineas
Controversy and plain bad luck clouded Burlaine Forest’s last outing over the course and distance when he ran into all sorts of trouble in a Pinnacle Stakes. The smart son of Tamburlaine looks cherry ripe to register his first stakes victory in Friday’s R130 000 Listed East Cape Guineas.
Burlaine Forest was recently described by champion local trainer Gavin Smith as the smartest 3yo in the Eastern Cape, and while the handicapper’s official ratings would suggest otherwise, we tend to agree with Smith.
Very Smart
Burlaine Forest looks like one of those freaks that occur from time to time in this game. The result of the mating of the well bred but rather disappointing Tamburlaine to a two time winning Forest King mare has produced a really smart horse with an electric turn of foot that looks destined for big things.
A winner of three of his five career starts, all three wins coincidentally achieved over Friday’s course and distance, Burlaine Forest takes on his first feature test against his own age group.
Things went awry in his last start, where he made up many lengths in the final 400m only to clash side on with a flying The Shark, and be knocked off his stride.
By the time Burlaine Forest got going again, the race was over and he was still one length short of his older stablemates Blaze Of Fire and Celtic Fire, who have won 21 races between them. There are some that will argue that Burlaine Forest running off an MR of 82 cannot beat the likes of Ottimo (96), Placido (95) and Way Clear(94).
Power Pair
Justin Snaith and Piere Strydom team up with the Australian bred Ottimo and the pair have a top class strike rate in Port Elizabeth. They will have to be on their toes though when conspiring with the game grey to devise a plan that could topple Burlaine Forest.
Gelding and headgear appear to have turned the fortunes of the son of Oratorio, who looked to be a very promising 2yo when still trained by Ivan Moore in his KZN days.
The top rated 3yo in this race, he has won 3 of his 10 starts and was unlucky last time when baulked late and only going down a half length to his highly thought of stablemate Albert Mooney in the Listed Ibhayi Stakes.
Alan Greeff’s Placido has been rested since going a little flat after winning 4 of his first 10 races.The son of Miesque’s Approval is probably not the stable elect based on riding arrangements.
Stable Elect
Consistent. Corne Spies’ Var gelding Lord Jonathan tries a mile for the first time
That title falls to the consistent multiple course and distance winner Way Clear, who only weakened late in the Listed Ibhayi Stakes when running a fair 3,75 length third to Albert Mooney, to whom he gave 4kgs. The son of Ashaawes reeled off a scintillating hat trick last last year, and could be dangerous if turning up in a galloping mood.
The Corne Spies trained Lord Jonathan has hit top form of late and won well last time when drawing off in an MR 78 Handicap over 1400m at Fairview to beat the seasoned campaigner, Checklist.
Lord Jonathan has his first try at a mile, and it is interesting to note that his dam won up to a mile.
Clean Bowled
Double Nelson is the second of the Bremner pairing and is in fair form having won two of his last four starts. He was a shock winner of the Sophomore Plate in the first week of Feb over the Fairview 1400m and was receiving weight from both Way Clear and Lord Jonathan there. He should be held in this race.
The former Sean Tarry trained gelding Red Silvano has his first Eastern Cape outing for the Grant Paddock yard, and won his maiden at his penultimate start over the Vaal 1700m. He followed that up with a fair two length third behind Tequila Sunrise in a 2200m lowly rated handicap at Turffontein.
Red Silvano has the best of the draw, but may lack the toe to go with this bunch. Michael De Broglio’s Land Of Meadows won his opening PE start in good style after relocating from Geoff Woodruff in Gauteng, where he had shown a blank scoresheet after four runs. He is a difficult horse to guage here.
The Indigo Magic gelding Prestwick has his first try at a mile, and as a one time winner from seven starts, should struggle to assert himself.
Tall Tree
We have suggested that Burlaine Forest is one of the best of his age group, an opinion confirmed by one of the region’s leading trainers. His duel with Ottimo should be an interesting spectacle of tactics and raw ability. Burlaine Forest is an enthusiastic selection to record his first stakes victory at the expense of Ottimo, with Way Clear holding on for third.
