Feel Satisfied! The 8yo Ryan’s A Lion is capable of causing an upset at best in the MR 91 Divided Handicap, despite his recent lack of form
After the champagne and caviar of Classic Day on Saturday, the rollercoaster dips sharply earthwards to the beer and burger midweek menu. Turffontein’s eight race night programme on Tuesday looks like a typical get- rich -quick or die- poor- trying type of meeting. And recent form is definitely not a prerequisite in the evening’s mainliner.
It is an inherent reality in any sport that we wouldn’t have the champions without the also-rans, and that certainly applies to racehorses and owning them. We would all love to lead in a Gr1 winner, but it is the ordinary and the battlers that provide the numbers that keep the wheels turning.
While for some, the evening out could be a delayed April Fool’s Day celebration, many people actually enjoy punting on these run of the mill meets, as the prospects of a lucky bumper payout for a small fractional investment is probably a lot higher.
Danger Zone
The R94 000 MR 91 Divided Handicap run over 1400m is positioned slap bang in the middle of the exotics, and the thirteen horse field just screams ‘upset’! And we know we are looking at problems when considering runners that haven’t produced a cheque in six runs, nine year olds, and generally the sick, lame and lazy.
Errico Verdonese’ Titano is the highest rated horse in the race, and this 8 time winning son of Doowaley finished 11 lengths back last to Slumdogmillionaire at his last outing over the course and distance.
Excuse
As a reasonable excuse, he was slow away, and the field was a strong one that included the likes of Mujaarib and Silver Flyer. We have to go back over a year to his last win when getting the better of Beta in an MR 91 Handicap run over 1800m at Turffontein.
Mike Azzie’s City Of Bells is a talented Fort Wood gelding, who has won six of his 32 starts. If one puts a line through his last placed finish behind General Sherman in the Listed Wolf Power, where he was patently outclassed, then City Of Bells is worth considering.
It is worrying that he was reported fatigued after finishing fifth behind Beta in a mile handicap at Turffontein in mid January, but his astute trainer Mike Azzie is bound to have remedied that issue.
Pacemaker
City Of Bells is a strong front runner, who jumps from a midfield draw position with one of the best jockeys in town aboard. He won’t get too many easier chances to bank a winning cheque.
Azzie also sends out the four time winner Decameron, who carries a handy galloping weight.He ran in the race won by Isobar last Saturday, which included some of the leading 3yo’s around.
He faded out after being caught wide there, but his previous four runs included a win over the top class 3yo Fantastic Mr Fox. Titano’s stablemate, the 8yo Ryan’s A Lion has his 83rd outing on Tuesday evening, and as a ten time winner, warrants respect in this field.
While he is unlikely to be accepted as a new member by any medical aid society in view of his litany of aches and pains, he has his first run back at Turffontein after a stint of campaigning at the Vaal, and could bounce back if things go his way.
Old Strike
Piere Strydom doesn’t ride too many 9yo’s but he obviously feels that Kum Naidoo’s Emir has some kind of chance here at his 58th start. The son of Kahal jumps from the best draw, and is a pacy sort who has not finished too far off the action in his recent starts.
He ran only four lengths off the promising Isobar last Saturday, and must have a good chance if repeating that. Bradley Maroun’s Rabadash is a fit horse (he has run seven times in three months) and has won his five races. The son of Surging River is probably at his most comfortable around this distance but,that said, his recent runs have inspired little confidence.
He will need to be settled from his 11 draw and he is not possessed with the world’s top gate speed, and we note that Sherman Brown rides Titano in preference.
Challenge
Mike De Kock’s 4yo Call The Challenge has been confined to the sprints for most of his career, but did run a fair fourth behind Potala Palace at his one try over Tuesday’s track and trip.
While still just a one time winner and a fellow who has had his breathing problems, he ran a fair third behind Virtuosity over the minimum trip last time when staying on, and he could relish the test at this stage of his life.
Spike Lerena’s Beat The Odds is carrying a paperweight of 48kgs for the services of his fast improving claiming apprentice Jarryd Penny. Beat The Odds is a winner of five of his first 22 starts and is proven over the course and distance.
He ran ten lengths behind subsequent Egoli Mile winner Bay Of Bengal at his last start, and while not a tearaway type, he could have a say late in the race off his lightweight.
Lucky Dip
Trainer Mike Azzie has a strong hand with his coupling of City Of Bells and Decameron.
Mike De Kock’s Call The Challenge is another who could be better than a one time winner, and may enjoy the extra ground.
Beyond them the selection becomes muddled with a mix of sentiment, emotion and history. All of Ryan’s A Lion, Titano, Emir and even Rabadash could win it. The best option is to go for the one ticket dividend and go wide.
