There will be plenty of anticipation today amongst racing fans who appear genuinely intrigued by following the progress of the 131-rated Highveld Champion Main Defender.
The son of Pathfork steps out to defend his title in the Betway Gr2 Spring Challenge as a popular banker in the projected R5 million Pick 6 carryover at his home base, Turffontein, today. The Pick 6 is off in the fourth at 14h35.
Main Defender – stable confidence suggests he is the banker today (Pic – JC Photos)
Gold Circle are reporting that a spokesman for the Peter stable said earlier this week that the 4yo is spot on. “He’s top of his game, he’s flying. He will win.”
That’s fighting talk but after annihilating the top-class Thunderstruck in this race last year he should take a power of beating when he lines up on Saturday. With Muzi Yeni away in Singapore, Gavin Lerena takes over in the irons for Tony Peter.
At the tail end of last season, Main Defender took his chances in a Pinnacle Stakes and may have been a touch unlucky when second behind course and distance specialist Unzen after casting a shoe in running. He meets his conqueror on 6.5kg better terms and Lerena has jumped ship from Robbie Sage’s runner to partner Main Defender with rumours that Lerena may be joining the Peter stable as first call rider.
The only real blot on Main Defender’s recent copybook was, what at first glance, was a disappointing effort in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge behind Dave The King. However, he did suffer interference in the running and although never going to challenge the winner he could have finished closer.
The Peter spokesman indicated that Main Defender is being targeted at the Betway Summer Cup in November.
“The Onamission Mile (Gr 2 over 1600m on November 2 at Turffontein Standside) is a question mark as he will be giving a chunk of weight away there, so we might instead go the Victory Moon (Gr3 over 1800m on November 9 Turffontein Standside) and then the Summer Cup. Going the Victory Moon route will also give us a better indication of whether he will see out the 2000m of the Summer Cup.”
Last year he beat Equus Champion sprinter Thunderstruck by over six lengths and given the weights and the stable confidence he could produce a similar performance here.
Stuart Ferrie is one of the quiet men of racing and makes a rare raid on the Highveld with Gladatorian. The son of Vercingetorix started his career under Ferrie’s former boss, the legendary trainer Dennis Drier, and Ferrie has continued to build on the gelding’s CV.
Gladatorian was far from disgraced in Champion Season’s Grade 1 races that included the Gold Challenge and The Mercury Sprint but he came back strong in his seasonal debut when comfortably home in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1500m.
He has the benefit of being racing sharp and while he may not quite be in the class of Main Defender, he should be a solid choice for a finish in the money.
Lerena has jumped ship on William Robertson to partner Main Defender but one can never write off a runner from the Corne Spies yard.
Beaten nine lengths by Main Defender in this race last year, William Robertson has been confined to sprints ever since. However, this trip is well within his compass and he ran a smart warm-up in a Pinnacle Stakes behind the rejuvenated Dyce last time out and he could be the surprise package.
Barbaresco, Gimmeanotherchance and Purple Pitcher are others to consider but Main Defender, on his best form, should be difficult to beat.
