Cool Customer. The Western Winter gelding Across The Ice is well poised to get back to winning ways at the Vaal on Thursday
The power combination of trainer Sean Tarry and jockey Piere Strydom will be in the final 48 hour countdown to the Vodacom Durban July when Across The Ice goes to post for a modest Pinnacle Stakes at the Vaal on Thursday. While the playing surfaces are worlds apart, the pair will be treating this race with the same professionalism as their historic double bid on Saturday.
This is the literal calm before the storm for the big guns. Even for champion performers, a dollop of match winning confidence will be welcome.
Lethal
Tarry and Strydom are one of the most lethal trainer jockey combinations in the country, and are on track to repeat their 2012 July success with current favourite Pomodoro. The bread and butter fare remains important though, and they have some serious business on hand at the Vaal on Thursday.
Across The Ice just happens to also run in the blue and red Van Niekerk silks, and although bred by his owner went through the sales ring at double the sales price of his star stablemate. Such are the quirks of investment in horses! We expect Across The Ice to add to his earnings tally on Thursday when he goes to post over his favourite course and distance.
Shocker
Now a six year old, Across The Ice has won 7 of his 43 starts and improved for a nice second last time after running a shocker at his previous outing. In that 1450m Pinnacle Stakes at the same venue, he finished some 18 lengths behind the Mike De Kock trained Right Beauty and meets the grey on the same weight terms here.
That was just not Across The Ice’s run though and we are opting to put a line through the statistic and bin it in favour of giving Tarry’s chestnut another chance. He does hold Right Beauty on their last course and distance meeting.
Acceleration
Right Beauty is a good sort and ran on well enough at his last start on sand over a mile. He could find this 1200m on the sharp side and is drawn widest of all. Across The Ice’s stablemate Follow The Piper looks like she is ready for the paddocks after losing enthusiasm for her racing in recent months.
This well performed daughter of Tiger Ridge is a course and distance winner and with ten races in the bag, may decide to gallop again. Which makes her a place prospect.
Day Visit
Highway! The Silvino gelding Bay Route tries the sand for the first time and could surprise
Summerveld based Frank Robinson is a rare visitor to the Vaal, and he brings the Silvino gelding Bay Route to town for his first sand effort. This fellow looked very promising at one time and the switch to sand is probably a move induced by frustration at his lack of enthusiasm and opportunity at home.
Paul Matchett and Randall Simons team up with Boy Oh Boy. The son of Kahal is a course and distance winner who has lost form since being stepped up in ground. He may enjoy the reversion to the sprint and certainly has the pace to make them pick up their feet.
Revelation
Fast. Romeo Francis’ Argentinian bred Funny Glory stopped late last time but is worth another chance
Brett Webber’s Argentinian bred Hang Fire has been a revelation since relocating from his original homebase in KZN and trying the sand. Very consistent and a fellow with a nice turn of foot, he looks held by Across The Ice on their meeting behind Benbow last time out.
Another Argentinian bred is Romeo Francis’ Funny Glory, who is held by both Across The Ice and Hang Fire on the Benbow run. Funny Glory has terrific speed and is capable of causing the upset if allowed to run too freely early.
Uninspiring
Kum Naidoo sends out the 9yo Kahal gelding Emir. A winner of seven races, the Kahal gelding has not won on the sand and in fact last found the winner’s enclosure over two years ago. That is not inspiring stuff, and we would rather let him prove of us wrong for now.
Snake Charmer
Louis Goosen’s recent maiden winner Annaconda Moon has his first dip on the sand. The son of Victory Moon registered his first win at his eleventh time of asking, so is no star.
His post maiden effort when running on steadily after being slow off to finish 3,25 lengths behind Brother In Arms in a handicap was not bad. He could be anything first time on this surface with a light weight.
On Ice
Across The Ice looks like the serious business in the race. His penultimate flat effort is of some concern, but we are all entitled to the odd off day. If he is in the mood and Strydom gets him out quickly and running, they will battle to stop him.
Right Beauty has adjusted well to sand racing and he will be dropped in from his wide gate. If he is on top of his game, he could give the Tarry galloper most to think about.
