Listed Highveld Sand Challenge winner Uncle Tommy will have Pylon and Formation to beat
There is plenty of needle in the topliner at the Vaal today when Mike Azzie’s sand king Pylon looks to avenge an unlikely defeat last time by Weiho Marwing’s versatile warrior Uncle Tommy. In a high quality race, they are not the only two capable of winning it either and St John Gray and Sean Tarry will be out to settle a few scores of their own.
The R120 000 Pinnacle Stakes to be run over the 1450mhas at-tracted as good a quality field we could hope to put together anywhere in the country on this surface. The proven campaigners are complimented by the up and coming Shadow Line, who steps into the big league after showing smart ability recently.
All The Twelves
The Kahal chestnut Uncle Tommy goes for his twelfth win in an extraordinary career where he has changed stables three times and run his races across the country. His ability has been best exposed on this surface and his last win when beating the fancied Pylon in the Listed Highveld Sand Challenge was a particularly impressive effort.
Interestingly, S’manga Khumalo takes over the reins on Uncle Tommy from Cape based Richard Fourie, who rode such a cracker of a race last time. The two jockeys could land up fighting over the SA champion jockey title trophy yet and with a lead cut to the teens, Khumalo will be keen to win this.
He meets the top class Pylon on the same weight terms and it is difficult to imagine that the marginal drop in distance will favour either one of them particularly. There should thus be precious little in it.
Get In Line
St John Gray’s Sarge mare Formation also just happens to be going for her twelfth victory and she has come out at the top of our ratings. She loomed dangerously in the Listed Queen Of The Sand last month but was outgunned to the tune of four lengths by Mike De Kock’s surprise winner Silent Force.
The latter won easily despite hanging out badly but, to be fair, was also receiving a substantial 7.5kgs from Formation. The course specialist gets 3kgs from the top three boys and that could count in her favour in the final 100m.
Tarry Two
Sean Tarry saddles Across The Ice and Taptap Makhatini. Piere Strydom rides Taptap Makhatini who has no chance with Pylon and Uncle Tommy on his last run when close on 17 lengths adrift. Breathing issues may have contributed to that dismal effort but his task remains a massive one. Across The Ice has won his last two races with Strydom up and carries joint topweight.
Interesting Choice
Jockey selection must tell us something (with respect to Marco Van Rensburg) and the fact remains that Across The Ice is a few lengths better over the sprints. He, interestingly, like Uncle Tommy and Formation, also happens to be going for his twelfth career win.
Steve Kenny’s Shadow Line has won his last two races (on turf and sand( by close on a combined sixteen length winning margin. His last win over the course and distance was a cracking 10 length victory over Be Mine Tonight and while he is close to the top dogs at the weights, he could be good enough to stretch them. Chase Maujean is in the saddle again.
Take A Trip
Geoff Woodruff’s River Trip is an interesting runner. He won a good race on the sand in September last year but has been confined to the turf in his last five runs. He has shown top class ability and ran on well in a lowly rated handicap behind Regal Stride last time. This won’t be easy for him but he could well be better than rated.
Dom Zaki’s Jet Jamboree returns from a 37 week and will no doubt be prepared for a tilt at the Emerald Cup in September. The lightly raced entire is likely to need the run. Yukon Gold is the second of the Azzie runners and has lost form of late. His best effforts were over sprint distances in any event, so he looks hard pressed here.
Watch Out
There will be plenty of looking over the shoulder in this race. Pylon is out to avenge his hiding by Uncle Tommy in the Highveld Sand Challenge. Formation is rated to beat them both. Taptap Makhatini had issues last time, while Across The Ice is pure class on the surface. Then Shadow Line looms as the progressive unknown!
