Splash Gold commands a nice turn of foot.
Gr2 Post Merchants over 1200m at Greyville on Friday night
With the best of the weekend action taking place at Greyville on Friday, nighttime is certainly the right time. The Gr2 Post Merchants tops the bill and with sixteen runners going to post over this sharp 1200m trip, the draw has to be a factor, writes Steve Furnish.
In what in real terms is a handicap, it isn’t impossible to win from the car park, as both Tirza and Super Profit have shown in recent years, but those drawn well do certainly hold an advantage.
Rabattache
Shouldering top weight of 60kg is the 4yo Rabattache, and nicely drawn in gate two, he should certainly have no problems in getting position. Three of his six wins have been gained over 1200m, but interestingly, they were all achieved in soft going. Glen Puller’s charge has performed with credit in his three starts since arriving in Natal after a six month break, but he has clearly been below best. The handicapper has aided his cause by dropping him four pounds since his arrival, but even so, he has no easy task here on current form.
Powerful Coupling
The highest rated of trainer Mike Bass’ two runners is Captain’s Secret. Although more often than not seen out over further, this son of Captain Al has won three of his seven starts over today’s distance. In our book, Captain’s Secret ran his best race since his juvenile days when only picked off in the dying strides by the J&B Met winner Past Master in the Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes in his first outing in Natal this season and he was again only beaten by a small margin when a runner up to Exclaim’n’exclude in a pinnacle event over 1200m last time out. He now has his third run since his arrival and setting off from gate six with Anthony Delpech in the saddle, he must be a serious runner.
After a spell in the wildnerness, Gaultier also ran his best race for a while when only a short head behind Captain’s Secret in that race won by Exclaim’n’exclude, and he is now 3kg better off at the weights with his stable companion. Currently racing off a mark three points lower in the handicap than his previous best, Gaultier was only 2,35 lengths off Shea Shea in the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint last time out and on that alone, he too must hold some kind of a chance here.
Last Year’s Winner
Those who believe in omens will no doubt be shouting for Casey Cool. Not only does he race off the same merit rating of 108 as he did when winning this race last year, but he also sets off from the same barrier position. He’s failed to win in nine starts since, but he did run up to his very best rating in our book when only failing to reach Splash Gold by a neck on his return from a three month break in the non black type In Full Flight Handicap over 1000m at this circuit last time out. He’s yet to miss the frame in three starts at this circuit. Expect a bold effort.
Splash Gold
Dean Kannemeyer’s charge had won four of his last five starts going into the Golden Horse Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville last time out and beaten just 3,6 lengths was far from disgraced. He commands a nice turn of foot and did catch the eye making some late headway in that most recent race won by Shea Shea. Regular rider Karl Neisius was aboard the odds on favourite What A Winter that day and he does now jump back into the saddle. One four 3yo’s in the race, Splash Gold can still improve plenty and although he doesn’t have the best of the draw here, I expect him to be involved in the finish.
Rebel Knight was finishing as well as anything in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint.
Rebel Knight
Formerly based in the Western Cape with Eric Sands, this 4yo son of Jet Master won three of his first five starts. He came to hand nicely after a spell of unsoundness in the latter half of 2010 and very quickly won two in a row. He’s been raised in class considerably since then, but in finishing third to Dancewiththedevil in the Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes, and fifth over 1000m to the very talented Val De Ra in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint, he has certainly shown his class. More often than not seen out over further than today’s trip, Rebel Knight was running on as well as anything in the Computaform and he has recently won over 1160m at Turffontein. He’s fairly drawn here taking into account his style of racing, and equally effective on both good and soft ground, he could pop up.
Luck Of The Draw
With two of his three runners drawn in the bush and the other in gate nine, trainer Joey Ramsden must be pulling his hair out. The highest in the weights of the trio is last season’s runner up in this race Bush Pirate. A bit of an enigma, Bush Pirate was fairly flying at the finish last year, where, setting off from exactly the same draw, he only failed to get to Casey Cool by a neck. He’s sporadically put in some very good performances in recent months, but he does race off a mark three points higher than that of last season and all in all doesn’t have it easy.
Drawn even wider than Bush Pirate is the highest rated of Joey’s three runners Copper Parade. A winner of the Gr1 Golden Horseshoe and listed Juvenile Stakes last season, Copper Parade was up there with the best of his generation as a juvenile. He’d been battling to get his head in front prior to gaining his first success over today’s distance last time out, but he had nonetheless caught the eye running on very well from down field on a number of occasions. He’s failed to make the frame when drawn wide in his two previous starts at this circuit and although he undoubtedly has the class to win this race, he too is clearly up against it.
The best drawn of the three, Shades Of Indigo commands a fair turn of foot on his day and it could well be that we haven’t seen the best of him yet. He’s gained all six of his career wins over 1200m and if at his best would be thereabouts. He was well beaten in each of his last two starts before leaving Cape Town though and he again failed to show in his first start here last month.
Tuscan Sky
As with Copper Parade, Tuscan Sky was up there with the best of his generation last season. Indeed, after winning the Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes in just his second career start, he was only beaten a length and three quarters by the subsequent Gauteng Guineas winner Link Man in the Gr1 Gold Medallion. He was off the track for almost five months after that effort and although he did then run two very good races on his return, he has since been laid off for a further six months. He has a very nice draw here setting off from pole position and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he won. He was never able to get into the race when from the same barrier position as today he finished well down field in the In Full Flight Handicap on his return last time out and although he will no doubt have needed that run, one is not quite sure what to expect.
Winking Jack
Lance Wiid’s charge took on a new lease of life after reverting to sprint distances in January. Indeed, he won three of his first four starts. He’s been jumped up in class considerably since then, but having run a fair sixth to Val De Ra in the Computaform and more significantly only beaten a length by Shea Shea in the Golden Horse Sprint Handicap over today’s distance last time out, he has proven himself up to the task. Winking Jack made the running in the Golden Horse and was only picked off late. He sets off here from gate three and with this sharp circuit sure to suit his style of racing, it will not be so easy for his rivals to peg him back. He’s a runner.
Elusive River
Charlie Laird’s charge ran a very good second when trying a mile for the first time in the Natal Guineas in his penultimate start, but he is usually seen out over today’s distance where he has won two from five. He looks held on his latest effort when ninth in the Golden Horse to Shea Shea, but his two wins earlier in the year would suggest that he is better than that. He could still improve considerably being a 3yo, but usually one to race handy, he’s going to find it tough here having been drawn fifteen.
Jet Command
Sparingly raced in recent months, Alyson Wright’s charge has won five of his nine outings over 1200m and interestingly, he is unbeaten in two starts over today’s course and distance. He will more than likely have needed the run when unplaced over 1000m on his return from a three month break last time out and as well as relishing the return to his optimum distance is sure to strip fitter here. Kevin Shea takes the ride and suitably drawn in barrier seven he is sure to be right there when they come off the bend.
Maliyakhe
Yet to miss the frame in eleven starts over 1200m, Maliyakhe is at his best over today’s distance. Since gaining the latest of those successes in October though, he has been beaten five times in handicap company. He has drawn well here, but clearly has a very stiff task now considerably up in class.
Mike’s Choice
The dark horse of the race is the Michael Roberts trained Mike’s Choice. He’s shown considerable improvement during the course of this season and having just won two in a row (both going away) comes into this race at the top of his game. He’s won three from five at this circuit and those successes do include his only previous start over today’s course and distance. Usually one to race up with, or close to the speed, Mike’s Choice has the not so easy to pass Felix Coetzee in the saddle and having been allotted a very favourable draw in gate four, he could surprise
Cool Spender
A winner of the listed Golden Loom Handicap earlier in his career, Cool Spender has won three of his seven starts over 1200m. He’s been coming to hand nicely since returning from a nine month layoff last month and he was staying on strongly when only a length and three quarters behind Copper Parade last time out. Sean Tarry’s charge has his third run after the rest here and should now be at his peak. He does have the worst of the draw having to set off from gate sixteen though, and that has to count against him.
About The Pace
A good pace is usually the norm over 1200m at Greyville and with a number of candidates for the role of frontrunner amongst the sixteen, that looks sure to be the case again here. Winking Jack is sure to be right there when push comes to shove, as is the dark horse Mike’s Choice. The brisk pace will suit those running on though, and there are plenty here with chances. In what is clearly a very competitive contest then I’m going to take my chances with Splash Gold.
