Paul Peter has labelled Costa Da Costa’s Trippi gelding African Ruler one of the best he has ever trained and the 3yo gets another chance to prove that he really is as good as his trainer thinks he is. He goes for his fourth successive win at the Vaal on Tuesday.
African Ruler goes for four on the trot
“God willing, we are aiming African Ruler at the Computaform Sprint and that suggests that we really do think very highly of him,”says Paul Peter when quizzed on his charge’s prospects in the R106 000 MR 95 Handicap over the 1200m straight.
And Paul knows that talk is the cheapest commodity in the racing game!
Paul Peter – really likes African Ruler
African Ruler is a progressive galloper and has climbed the handicapper’s ladder from a 91 rating at the outset of his three run winning streak to the 102 that he jumps at here.
Two of his recent wins have been over the course and distance and he strips a fit horse some way off his season target, which is ten weeks away.
The R1 million Gr1 Computaform Sprint will be run over 1000m at Turffontein at the end of April, and there is ‘method to the madness’ in Paul having run his charge as often as he has recently.
“He is a very green horse and I am trying to give him as much racing experience as I am reasonably able to. Gavin (Lerena) said that last time he pinned his ears back and dug his toes in when he saw the false rail and the advertising boards. We don’t need him to go into a Gr1 weight-for-age race and not do his best by running green,” he added.
He went on to say that it was unfortunate that Hong Kong-bound Gavin Lerena won’t be riding African Ruler, but that his cousin Brandon had won his maiden at Scottsville and was aware that the gelding liked to run at them late.
“Funny enough, Gavin actually rode African Ruler for his bad draw last time and he scraped home ahead of Kapitan. He is better than that when ridden as he prefers. I fancy him here and he has beaten many of them already anyway,” he said confidently.
As the only 3yo in the field of fourteen, and bumping a bunch of hardknocking battle scarred handicappers, African Ruler will have to bring his a-game to the track.
Goosen’s One Man’s Dream – carries top weight
Louis Goosen’s classy topweight One Man’s Dream is very capable but racing off form at the moment and looks held by African Ruler who beat him 3,45 lengths last time out.
Sean Tarry and Mike De Kock have three runners each in the race.
De Kock’s three includes a pair of decent 4yo’s. Anton Marcus rides the Listed Michaelmas Handicap Alghadeer, who returns to action following a 12 week break after his short Cape campaign.
Anjaal has also been rested for a similar time and looks the better over this trip – even if jockey engagements suggest otherwise.
The 5yo four-time winner Capricorn Ridge has not run for over four months and was quite effective on the sand.
Tarry looks to be sharpening Tiger Territory and The Hangman, who are both more effective over more ground.
Andrew Fortune – could get Prince Jazeem to spark
Andrew Fortune is an eyecatching booking for the third of the Tarry trio. He is the 7yo Toreador gelding Prince Jazeem, who has not won in ages, and has been largely out of sorts lately.
Greasepaint ran 7,75 lengths behind Viking Hero in the Tommy Hotspur Handicap last time.
His form has tapered negatively in his last few runs.
Alec Laird’s’ Amazing Strike has run two consecutive fifths and this sprinting so of Ideal World must have a shout as a course and distance winner.
Dennis The Menace cannot be discounted on the merits of his penultimate half length third to African Ruler, whom he now meets on 3kgs better terms.
He failed to spark last time when 6 lengths behind Pure Blonde, but is capable of a good run every now and again.
Former Gavin Van Zyl runner Jet Fever returns from an 85 week break and would need further to show his very decent best ability.
