The first of five graded races to take place on Summer Cup day, The Gr2 Merchants has been won by Arabian Mist in each of the last two seasons. It would be an amazing feat if this son of Muhtafal were to complete a hat-trick in the event, but he is now a 7yo and he meets some very promising up and coming young horses here, writes Steve Furnish.
Surprisingly, those two victories in this event have been the only occasions on which Gary Alexander’s charge has found the winner’s enclosure in his last twenty outings. His most recent form has not been inspiring, but then it wasn’t prior to last season’s event and he has been following the same path. Just as he did last season when winning this race at 40/1, Arabian Mist has his third run after the rest here. He will more than likely start at very big odds again, despite the fact that he flew up from the rear to beat this season’s probable favourite Link Man on 4,5kg worse terms last year.
Link Man
After finishing runner up in this event last season, the Toreador colt Link Man showed good improvement and went on to win the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Gauteng Guineas, in good style. He was off the track for six months after being badly interfered with when sent off favourite in the Natal Guineas, but he did then show his well being in no uncertain terms when beating two of today’s better runners in a conditions event over today’s course and distance just three weeks ago. Link Man wasn’t the quickest into stride that day, but the manner in which he made up the ground, and then won going away, would suggest that further improvement is still to come.
Gibraltar Blue
Speedy Gibraltar Blue has tremendous gate speed
As well as the very talented Link Man, globe trotter Mike De Kock is also represented by the flying mare Gibraltar Blue. Effective over all distances up to a mile, this daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar has particularly good gate speed and has proven to be a very powerful front runner. She showed her well being in good style when always clear of a very useful field in the Gr3 Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m at the inner track on her return from a five month break in her penultimate start, and she can be excused getting beaten in her latest outing as she was trying the sand for the first time. Gibraltar Blue has her third run after the rest here and should be at her best
Shea Shea
After being beaten comfortably on more favourable terms by Link Man in both the Tony Ruffel Stakes and Gauteng Guineas over further last season, Geoff Woodruff’s charge showed good improvement when reverting to sprinting in the autumn. Indeed, after finishing a close up third to the very talented filly Val De Ra in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m, he then went on to win the prestigious Gr1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville in May. He looked to have done everything right when hitting the front in that recent conditions event won by his old adversary Link Man on his return from a six month break last time out, but perhaps in need of the outing, he could find no extra when challenged 250m out. Shea Shea is sure to strip fitter here and he is now 1,5kg better off at the weights with Link Man.
Moroccan
Weiho Marwing’s charge has gained three of his six career wins over today’s course and distance and interestingly, those successes were all achieved in soft going. He’s been sparingly raced after running fourth in the Durban Merchants back in Jun ’10 and his form since has been a little in and out. He did run a very promising third to the useful Mannequin on his return from a six month break in his penultimate outing though, and the second run after a rest brigade will already have excused his effort behind Link Man last time out. He has his third run after the rest here and with plenty of rain forecast in the lead up to this event he should be at his best.
Snowdon
Having finished in the first five in both the Dingaans and Gauteng Guineas last season, the Western Winter gelding Snowdon is clearly very close to the best of his generation. What is interesting here though, is that prior to his return from a five month break when beaten two lengths by Link Man in that aforementioned conditions plate, Snowdon had won his only two starts when sprinting, and they were both over today’s course and distance. As with both Link Man and Shea Shea, improvement looks sure to be forthcoming. He should be involved again.
Zorba’s Tale
Another to have been left trailing in the wake left by Link Man last time out, the veteran Zorba’s Tale has been sparingly raced over the past twelve months. Most of his wins have been gained over further than they race here, but he has won over the course and distance off an eleven point lower mark in the handicap earlier in his career, and he was running on best of all over this trip when third to Polar Moon off today’s mark in the Gr2 Senor Santa Handicap in April.
Antious
One of just two runners making the trip from Natal, the 4yo Antious has shown flashes of real ability throughout his career and he has come to hand very nicely since returning from a short break in September. He’s more often than not seen out over further and his three latest wins have all been gained over a minimum of 1450m. He is clearly still improving and having his third run after the rest here should now be at his peak. What is a concern though, is that other than his maiden win over 1000m on debut, he has failed to win in five subsequent starts over sprint distances.
Mike’s Choice
A running on sixth in the Durban Merchants in June, Michael Roberts’ charge has been a model of consistency over the past twelve months and fully deserved his back to back wins over 1400m in the autumn. He’s sure to give of his best here and although others with greater scope for improvement are preferred for the win, he might just make the frame.
Polar Moon
Formerly with Grant Maroun, Polar Moon looked to be a top sort in the making when winning four in a row earlier in his career. He was off the track for two periods of four months after the latest of those successes though and then battled to find his form until he suddenly came good in the Gr2 Senor Santa Handicap in April. A winner of three of his five starts over today’s course and distance, Polar Moon was only beaten a length by Shea Shea in the his only subsequent outing last season and he is now 3kg better off at the weights with that one. He was hampered 550m out when third on his seasonal debut in the listed Golden Loom Handicap over 1000m earlier in the month and racing off a nice galloping weight of just 53kg here, he must hold some kind of a chance.
Unannounced
Lone 3yo Unannounced - the only unbeaten runner in the field
The only 3yo in the race is the unbeaten Unannounced. Yet to race at any circuit other than Clairwood, this son of Snitzel has shown good improvement with each outing in our book. He has only scraped home after a fight in two of his four starts, but what is interesting here is that both of those races were over 1000m. He’s won with authority in his two outings over 1200m and in the latest of those he beat one of today’s runners Mike’s Choice fair and square. Strictly by the book, Unannounced has a bit to find now 5,5kg worse off at the weights with Mike’s Choice, and he does also race for the first time without regular partner Anton Marcus. He could yet prove to be anything though, and with a very able substitute in Felix Coetzee on board as well as shouldering a featherweight of 52kg, he has to be a very serious runner here.
Officer Class
A winner of eight of his 44 starts to date, this son of Captain Al has proven to be a very good servant to his connections. He’s won three of his eleven starts over today’s trip and is sure to give of his best. He is taking a big step up in class here though and out at the weights to boot, he is not easy to fancy.
About The Pace
With plenty of speed in the race, not to mention the flying Gibraltar Blue, the pace looks sure to be on. Gibraltar Blue, Shea Shea and Snowdon all hold realistic chances of being successful here and the unbeaten 3yo Unannounced could yet prove to be anything. The one I like best on the day though is the improving Toreador colt Link Man.
