The 8yo White House could surprise in the Flamingo Park feature under his light weight
The R100 000 Northern Cape Stayers Handicap at Flamingo Park on Monday hosts a small field, which includes last year’s winner Karlo. While he hasn’t done particularly well here previously, Grant Paddock’s recent PE polytrack multiple winner White House could just be the dark horse with a postage stamp on his back.
The seven horse non black type feature field includes a bunch of light-weights that are likely to make topweight African Gladiator carry his pudding all the way round the arduous 2200m of the dusty track.
Featherweight
The most attractive aspects of the Windrush gelding White House’s prospects in this race are not his previous track record in the Northern Cape or the fact that he is rising 9 years of age. After all, in equine terms that’s akin to Granddad trying to outrun Grandson over the 75m dash at the school athletics day. But on the plus side, White House carries a meagre 48kgs courtesy of apprentice Ryan Munger’s claim and his recent form resurgence on the poly (3 wins from 7 starts) in his adoptive hometown augurs well for his prospects.
While we are looking at two different surfaces when comparing Kimberley sand versus Fairview poly, White House gets the weight odds swung in his favour as he runs off his modest turf rating as against the likes of the proven Kimberley Kid, African Gladiator, who is set to carry 62,5kgs.
While he is having his 78th run, the comments of White House’s trainer Grant Paddock post race to a recent win suggested that there is still plenty of life left in the old warrior.
Troublemaker
White House is coupled with the capable Kahal gelding Trouble Again, who has put in some fair recent runs on the poly. If we go back to August last year, Trouble Again ran a cracking second over Monday’s course and distance to PE Gold Cup winner, Key Castle. It is true though that he is some 11 kgs worse off with his stablemate for a 3,75 length beating on the poly 2000m in February.
Upgrade
Tienie Prinsloo’s former modest turf performer Sir Newton won the R100 000 Flamingo Park Handicap at his last start. Formerly trained by Alan Greeff out of Port Elizabeth, where he won just one maiden from his 21 starts, Sir Isaac made his sand debut in the Northern Cape on 17 February.
Five runs later, he has won two races and registered three second place stakes as his official rating has soared from 49 to 82. If coping with his tough programme in under two months, he will go close. Sir Isaac had the beating of African Gladiator by eight lengths last time and now meets the Miller runner on 2kgs worse terms.
He is coupled with last year’s winner Karlo. Karlo enjoys the claim of Mandla Ntuli and is another with a light weight to carry. He has only won once since (at his penultimate start against weaker) and is a rather in and out sort at best.
Gallant
The topweight African Gladiator is one of the most charismatic campaigners in this region. Cliffie Miller’s Modern Day gelding is a multiple course and distance winner and one of the strongest sand gallopers around.
It is worrying that the eight time winner dropped out of contention when beaten eight lengths by Sir Newton last time and history will dictate that he is expected to bounce right back in this event.
Difficult
Ryan Hutcheson’s Deckie Boy is 2kgs better off with Sir Newton after a1,75 length on his Kimberley debut. The lightly raced Kahal gelding won his maiden over a mile on the Vaal sand and may still have more improvement to come. The Spectrum filly Silken Sea is in under sufferance and looks to have very little chance against the male big guns.
She ran 25,50 lengths behind Stone Reeves last time and was found to be not striding out. Her previous start was much better, but against her own company.
Monday Blues
A case can be made for any one of four runners. White House is one of those unique campaigners who may have undergone a new lease on life. His recent polytrack performances underscore that.
He could be the one to beat at value odds. African Gladiator, Sir Newton and Trouble Again won’t make it easy for him, and all are capable of winning.
