Link Man finished runner up in the Gauteng Merchants over 1160m at Turffontein last season
Conditions Plate over 1160m at Turffontein (stand side) on Tuesday
With the Western Cape and Gauteng seasons now underway, plate races come to the fore in midweek. The most interesting of these is a conditions event at Turffontein on Tuesday evening where only one of the ten runners has a merit rating less than 100, writes Steve Furnish.
More often than not it is the top weight that is best in at the weights in these types of events, but that isn’t the case here.
Link Man
Indeed, last season’s Gauteng Guineas winner Link Man is the most favoured and he carries just 56kg. Link Man has more often than not been seen out over further during the past twelve months and returning from a six month break here he is in all probability being prepared for forthcoming features. He has proven to be almost as effective sprinting though, as his second placing to Arabian Mist over today’s course and distance in the Gauteng Merchants a year ago will attest. This son of Toreador meets Arabian Mist on 4,5kg better terms here and Mike’s runners do usually come out firing after a break.
Shea Shea
Geoff Woodruff’s charge was beaten comfortably on more favourable terms by Link Man in both the Tony Ruffel Stakes and Gauteng Guineas last season and at first glance would look held. Those two events were over much further than they race here though and since reverting to sprinting after the guineas, this National Emblem colt showed considerable improvement. 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. As with Link Man, Shea Shea returns from a six month break here, but if ready he will be right there.
Count Express
After flying up late to finish third to Arabian Mist in the last season’s Gauteng Merchants, Ormond Ferraris’ charge went on to run Shea Shea to just a half length in a progress event on 6kg less favourable terms than they meet here! He’s been battling to find his best form since then though and having been reported as not striding out in his first start following a four month break last time out, he is perhaps best just watched here.
Snowdon
More likely to be a threat from the Ferraris stable on the day then is Snowdon. He’s been mainly campaigned over further and having finished in the first five in both the Dingaans and Gauteng Guineas, he is clearly not far off the best of his generation. What is interesting here though is that Snowdon has won his only two starts when sprinting and they were both over today’s course and distance. He too returns from a break here, but he has to be a factor if ready.
Moroccan
Weiho Marwing’s charge has gained three of his six career wins over today’s course and distance and interestingly, they were all in soft going. He’s been sparingly raced after running fourth in the Durban Merchants back in Jun ’10 though 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 last time out though, and he would be thereabouts if putting his best foot forward.
Arabian Mist
Gary Alexander’s charge has won three of his eight starts over today’s course and distance and those victories include the last two runnings of the Gauteng Merchants. Now a 7yo, Arabian Mist has failed to find the winners enclosure in nine starts since the latest of those successes though and badly out at the weights to boot here, he looks unlikely.
Winking Jack
After reverting to sprint distances in the middle of last season, the veteran Winking Jack won three of his next four starts and then went on to run within 1,1 lengths of Shea Shea in the Golden Horse Sprint. He’s been below best since being reported as not striding out in his next outing though and now 5kg worse off at the weights with Shea Shea here, he clearly has a very stiff task.
Winning Leap
The 2010 Gold Bowl winner Winning Leap has never previously raced over a trip this short. He races for the first time since finishing eighth in last season’s Gold Bowl in April and is clearly just being warmed up.
The Plunderer
A winner of four races in Port Elizabeth, The Plunderer was only beaten half a length by last season’s J&B Met third placed runner Run For It when conceding 4kg in the Racing Association Stakes at Fairview last season. He’s done well around today’s distance, but he is returning from an eight month layoff here and will more than likely need the run.
About The Pace
Although a number of the runners have proven to be at there best racing handy, with no confirmed front runners in the field there has to be concerns about the pace.
Link Man and Shea Shea are most favoured at the weights and although both return from a six month layoff here, they will in all probability fight it out.
