Master’s Spirit wins his maiden at Scottsville – can he do it at Vaal on Tuesday?
The Gauteng trainers leave their Cape colleagues running a poor second when it comes to filling fields. Take the ten race programme at the Vaal on Tuesday. Over 150 horses have accepted to race. That makes for interesting and competitive racing – and for the punter it’s a magnet to get involved and have a dip.
That is not to say that small fields can’t deliver decent dividends. The exotics at Durbanville last Wednesday paid handsomely.
But the ‘equinomics’ of it all tells a different story. When a battling maiden is racing for R85 000 up North and a decent three-time winner is competing for R83 000 down South, then the reality kicks in for pressured owners and trainers.
The confidence factor is also important – negativity snowballs – small fields engender no sort of appeal – and frankly, R10 is sometimes better spent on the Lotto.
Our Game
But we love this game and we are already wading in knee-deep at the Vaal on Tuesday where an MR 86 Handicap over 1400m is the topliner on the programme. And in typical handicap fashion, a case can be made for a fair percentage of the twelve runners.
Mike De Kock – holds a powerful hand
Most are well-tried , and it is Mike De Kock’s lightly raced Master’s Spirit who catches the eye as a potential upgrader.
The R3,4 million son of Jet Master, was one of the last ever progeny of the great sire to be offered at sale when Form Bloodstock secured him for Sheik Hamdan at the 2013 National Yearling Sale.
He has only his fourth career start after, winning readily at Scottsville over 1400m at his second start.
Master’s Spirit was then given a break of seven months and came out three weeks back in a pipe-opener sprint to stay on well, just over 4 lengths behind Thrust. This will be more his game and the astute Mr De Kock must have bigger plans in the pipeline than this level of competition for the magnificent specimen – and that 68 merit rating!
The older horses at the other end of the scale look likely to offer the most resistance.
No Pretence
Rake’s Chestnut – not too relaible
Rake’s Chestnut – we call him the ‘great pretender’ – has tumbled down the ratings from his peak rating of a 109. That assessment is looking more off kilter with every run, but he ran a fair race after a four month rest when 5 lengths behind Counterstroke last time.
He has disappointed far too often to be selected on these pages, but will strip fitter – and Raymond Danielson gets into the hot seat.
Andrew Fortune and trainer Brian Wiid set Greyville alight recently with some keenly chosen profitable raids into KZN. They pair up again with the joint topweighted six-time winner, National Key.
The son of National Assembly has two unplaced efforts on the Greyville polytrack behind him, but looks much more assertive on turf. That said, he is yet to win at the Vaal.
Inconsistent
Leeuloop Jet is a bit of an in-and-out sort of performer, who may prefer a touch further to be at his most competively comfortable.
The son of Lion Tamer won his penultimate start in a similar strength race at this venue – but over 600m further.
Geoff Woodruff – Rake’s Chestnut must be a frustrating horse to train
Geoff Woodruff-trained Master Switch was withdrawn from his last engagement and is thus in his 18th week without throwing a punch in anger.
He looks likely to be looking for further.
Another fellow who comes off a long rest is the fourth of the Jet Master progeny, in Gavin Van Zyl’s Platinum Jet.
A course and distance winner, he has won twice in 6 starts and the betting will be the best guide as to his prospects.
Ready
Fitness will not be an issue with Johan Janse van Vuuren’s Australian-bred Gasoline. The son of Teofilo has shown decent ability and ran on strongly over a too-short 1000m last time, in a strong race. He will be much happier over the extra 400m.
The 7yo soldier Captain Haddock ran a flat race in the August Stakes and returns from a long stint on sand. He could battle, but is no slouch on his day.
Piere Strydom – rides Move Like Jagger
The engagement of Piere Strydom to ride Move Like Jagger is an attention grabber.
The son of Daylami, despite being baulked, cracked on well behind The Captain’s Tune over the course and distance last week. He ran under a length back in third and on paper he drops in class.
The rampant Mike Azzie fits blinkers to the grey Kissimmee, the only filly in the line-up.
She has won at the Vaal and her recent form is not the worst in the world. She could improve to run into the money.
Any Price
Horses, like many people, don’t know their price tags. But we are siding with Master’s Spirit to take his next step up the ladder and win this.
Gasoline and National Key are must-includes, while Rake’s Chestnut could chase the pace for a quartet credit – but no guarantees on that front!
