Rested. The classy Rocco’s Luck returns from a break and has the ability to go close in this field
A bumper ten race programme is offered at the Vaal on Tuesday, where Mike De Kock saddles the talented Royal Academy gelding Rocco’s Luck in the afternoon’s topliner, the MR94 Handicap. The 5yo makes his seasonal debut and warrants inclusion, if not in need of the outing.
The Vaal meet forms a double header with the Greyville night meeting, which was postponed from last Wednesday evening. Tuesday also happens to be Guy Fawkes Day, and while it is not one of the most popular celebrations on the calendar, punters will be hoping for fireworks. The day’s lack of profile probably stems from the fact that we are thankfully more concerned with animal and human safety considerations these days. It also sadly does not come with the benefit of a public holiday.
Quality
Plenty of sparks should be provided in the R94 000 MR99 Handicap at the Vaall though, with a mixed bag, but quality field of ten lining up in the second leg of the popular Jackpot bet. Rocco’s Luck is a versatile sort who has won his 5 races from 1200m to 1800m.
We know that Mike De Kock only pushes them when they have ability and he twice chased the silverware in Champions Season. He was not disgraced in both the Gr3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup and the Gr3 Mango 2200, when on the heels of the winners. Rocco’s Luck won his last start, when beating his highly thought of stablemate Mercurial Brave in an MR 97 Handicap over the Scottsville 1800. He returns from a 15 week rest , and has relocated to Gauteng, with obvious feature aspirations.
Firing
His stablemate Cannon had a tough Gauteng feature programme last season after winning two of his first four starts, but was not disgraced when reaching for the stars. He was injured at his return run, when staying on well for 5,75 lengths behind Stavinsky over 1450m in a similar class handicap at Turffontein. That run would have brought him on, and he cannot be ignored.
Ferraris Duo
Ormond Ferraris and Sherman Brown team up with the Lundy’s Liability gelding Dual Asset, who races in the famous orange and red Chow silks, most notably worn in bygone days, by The Apache. Dual Asset lumbers joint topweight with Rocco’s Luck, and is never far off the action. He stayed on well behind Royal Zulu Warrior last time at his second start of the season and may prove dangerous if ridden conservatively.
His stablemate Irish Gift steps up in class after winning his last race 13 weeks ago. A winner of 3 of 22 starts, Irish Gift looks dangerous on 52kgs, and could be the lurker.
Balanced
Weiho Marwing saddles the lightly raced Fulcrum. The classy 4yo son of Captain Al has only his fourth run, and was unlucky to go down to the superiority of Piere Strydom riding Flag Of France last time. That was an excellent post maiden effort by a horse who had won his race at his previous start over the Vaal mile by 7,25 lengths.
Rested
Sean Tarry saddles a coupling of the course and distance winner Perigrine and the rested Bamako. Perigrine finished 5, 75 lengths behind Indian River at the end of last season, in an MR 90 Handicap over the Turffontein 1800m. He is now 2kgs worse off with the Laird galloper on that run, and may need a run or two to get back to competitive fitness levels. But the form has seesawed, so exercise caution. Bamako returns from a 20 week rest, and while he won his maiden over a mile, is more of a staying sort.
Better On Turf
The Geoff Woodruff trained Rock The Country reverts to the turf after two ordinary runs on the sand. The son of Western Winter will be ridden by Robbie Fradd. He finished 16 lengths behind Henry Higgins last time, but it is worth noting that he won his last two starts on grass, and could be better than he appears on paper. The Alec Laird trained Indian River has run two flat races this season, albeit in strong company. He gets the benefit of 1.5 claim here and may have found the 2450m on soft ground in the Java Handicap, beyond his compass.
Place Chance
The Chris Erasmus trained Antarctic Call has won 2 of 19 starts, but the talented son of Announce has his problems. He has been scratched lame at both of his last two engagements, and while he ran well as recently as September, needs to confirm his fitness. At best, he has a place chance. With fitness an unknown question mark against a few, we are going for the improving Fulcrum to beat Dual Asset and Rocco’s Luck.
