Class Horse. The Listed Darley Arabian winner Distinguished will be partnered by Andrew Fortune in the MR 94 Handicap at the Vaal on Monday
The fascinating argument for and against utilising the services of a claiming apprentice as opposed to a more experienced jockey is played out in the MR 94 Handicap at the Vaal on Monday. Astute trainer Lucky Houdalakis gains a mathematical edge on paper by engaging apprentice Jarryd Penny at the expense of his regular established rider.
Houdalakis was a top class jockey in his day and is one of the shrewdest minds in the training ranks. He saddles a coupling of recent winner Right To Tango and the mare Vivacious Star in the MR 94 Handicap run over 1400m.
Tough Ask
Chase Maujean, who usually rides both horses, puts a leg over Vivacious Star, who is a winner of 3 of her 16 starts. While the mare is generally campaigned against her own sex, she did run a fair third behind Magic’s Magic in a mixed MR 95 Divided Handicap over the Vaal 1200m at her penultimate outing. Did Maujean have the choice of rides?
The stakes placed Right To Tango looks a serious contender after bouncing back to form last time when running handily under Maujean and staying on strongly to beat National Key over Monday’s course and distance.
Right To Tango had the smart Adams Rock, whom he meets again here, beaten 1,30 lengths into third there. Adams Rock gave the Houdalakis runner 5, 5kgs. On Monday, he has to give Right To Tango 8kgs, thanks in part to Penny’s allowance.
No Excuses
Adams Rock appeared to have no excuses, other than hanging under pressure late, and he thus should once again finish behind Right To Tango. So it’s an easy game this. Or is it? Let’s drop the sunshine journalism and get down to the brass tacks of establishing how good a rider Jarryd Penny is on the raw statistics.
And also consider whether we would put our proverbial on the block and back him to outwit and get the better of the salted veterans Robbie Fradd and Andrew Fortune, on an average day. The 21 year old Jarryd Penny has ridden two winners from 97 rides this season. Interestingly and rather positively, he has, along with Franklin Maleking, enjoyed the highest number of engagements in the country.
Value
That may indicate that he is still considered value for his claim by trainers and is a hardworking youngster. While Julius Mariba heads the national apprentice table with 11 winners, and Penny is in joint seventh position, does the young man’s strike rate really engender much confidence?
To add to the equation, closer perusal reveals that both his winners were achieved in the first week of the season in Kimberley. We are inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt, but he won’t have a win dished up on a plate.
Consistent
The very consistent joint topweight Adams Rock is a talented Australian bred 4yo. A winner of 3 of his 13 starts, he is, as we have already noted, held by Right To Tango on his last run. At his previous start he beat Right To Tango by six lengths receiving a half kilo. We have no doubt that Robbie Fradd will have a plan up his sleeve to reverse matters and the tactical battle should make for interesting observation.
Class Horse
The Listed Darley Arabian winner Distinguished makes his seasonal debut under another genius of the saddle in Andrew Fortune. He is a major contender for top honours. The son of Kahal has won 4 of his 15 starts, and benefitted from an inspirational ride by newly Hong Kong based Karis Teetan, to steal the Darley Arabian on Super Saturday. He is rated marginally inferior to Adams Rock, and is the class horse in the race.
Lightly Raced
Dominic Zaki’s Matthew Ethan is a lightly raced one time winning son of Eyeofthetiger and appears to have plenty of scope for further upward movement. He ran handily last time when staying on for second behind Rambo. He finished 4,75 lengths ahead of Right To Tango there in receipt of 3kgs and now meets the Houdalakis galloper at level weights,
Clinton Binda’s Due And Payable steps up in class after winning his last start over the course and distance. The son of Dupont is fairly consistent and has a galloping weight to lump, courtesy of Julius Mariba. It is worth noting that Piere Strydom jumps aboard Flag Of France for Romeo Francis.
The son of The Sheik is held by both Adams Rock and Right To Tango, but Strydom is worth a few lengths and doesn’t take rides to simply keep his hand in. Flag Of France is a quartet possibility.
Fresh
Distinguished is very capable and runs fresh. He could assert himself in the hands of Fortune. Right To Tango will be right there if maintaining his form, while Adams Rock cannot be written off. It should be an interesting race and the young apprentice Penny has a wonderful opportunity to show his promise and what he is made of.
