One Man’s Dream could be tested by Dollar Dazzler
“He has had one grass gallop and I would rate him 90% ready.” So says top Gauteng trainer Alec Laird of his progressive and highly thought of Var gelding Dollar Dazzler who returns from a six month rest at the Vaal on Tuesday.
The Klipdrift Stud-bred Dollar Dazzler has been something of a talking horse and his mere presence should generate plenty of interest on the month-end Tuesday programme.
Competitive
Dollar Dazzler has only his fourth run in the second race and Bipot opener, the MR 89 Handicap over 1200m, in what is labelled ‘a very competitive race’ by the trainers of the two most likely fancied runners.
Laird said that Dollar Dazzler had been given a six month rest after his post-maiden run when finishing just 0,25 lengths behind the smart Trip Tease at level weights. He had won his maiden at the second time of asking by 10,50 lengths! He felt the 1200m was the ‘perfect distance’ for him.
“He is really a lovely looking horse and we decided to give him a break to sort out a few issues. He is a tearaway sort and we thus can’t work him with other horses. He is 100% sound and I am hoping that the one grass gallop will be enough to have him 90% ready. I see the handicapper rates him superior to the four-time winner One Man’s Dream. Let’s see if he is right!”
Reserved
Trainer Louis Goosen – slightly reserved
The usually ebullient Louis Goosen , who trains the Greys Inn gelding One Man’s Dream echoed the sentiment that it was a tough race.
“I have Piere Strydom aboard and my horse is fit and well. But it won’t be easy. It’s a small field – but it’s competitive,” he said.
Interestingly Goosen will have a line through his top horse Trip Tease when assessing One Man’s Dream’s merits versus those of Dollar Dazzler.
The latter ran a quarter length level weights third to Trip Tease at end March.
Look Further?
It is a handicap, so let’s not assume the top two are the only two.
Topweight Mythical Palace has run to a lifetime highest MR of 98 and his last win was over the course and distance. He has his issues though and needs to lumber 62,5kgs coming off a ten week rest.
Romeo Francis’ Flag Of France ran a cracking second over the course and distance last time to One Man’s Dream. He is a kilo better off, but we must assume that Piere is not riding One Man’s Dream because of family loyalties alone.
Fast And Slow
Both Malachite and Cohiba appear to have plenty to do, although the former is very fast and capable of a placed effort.
Cohiba does his prospects damage at the start as he dawdles every time.
