Galanthus won well in his first try on sand last time out.
Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m at Vaal (sand) on Tuesday
The highest purse on offer in midweek is that put aside for the winner of a Pinnacle Stakes at the Vaal’s sand track on Tuesday. Small fields are usually the norm in this kind of event as the weights favour some much more than others. Unusually though, fourteen go to post here, writes Steve Furnish.
Best in at the weights, albeit marginally, is Galanthus. Tyrone Zackey’s charge has been battling with soundness over the past twelve months or so and his better efforts have been few and far between. He is very close to the best of his generation on his day though, as he showed when running the subsequent July runner up Pierre Jourdan to just half a length at levels in the Jo’burg Spring Challenge last October. He beat a number of today’s rivals fair and square when trying the sand for the first time in his third run after a rest last time out and if reproducing that effort he won’t be easy to beat.
King’s Destiny
Trainer Tyrone Zackey is also represented by King’s Destiny. Unlike Galanthus though, this one faces a near impossible task at the weights.
Alimony
Amazingly, St John Gray’s charge has failed to win in 23 starts since landing the prestigious Emerald Cup back in 2008. As he showed when a fast finishing second in this year’s Emerald Cup though, he does still retain a high level of ability. He was only beaten two lengths by Galanthus over today’s course and distance last time out and now 1kg better off at the weights with that one, a bold effort can be expected.
Stable companion Shuffles would look to be a little out of her depth at first glance, but she has shown considerable improvement in recent starts and in receipt of 6kg from the likely favourite she might just make the frame.
D J Detzy
A dark horse in the race is D J Detzky. Formerly with Gavin Smith in the Eastern Cape, D J Detzky won the R250000 KZN breeders Stakes in Durban at the end of last season. He was trying the sand for the first time when beaten out of sight over a trip short of his best after a break last time out, but he did clearly have excuses. He would no doubt have a shout if at his best, and the booking of Pierre Strydom does catch the eye.
Eastern Cobbler
Roy Magner’s charge has gained all five of his wins at this circuit and after some rather indifferent performances on turf, he did bounce back to his best when put back on today’s surface last time out. He has a nice draw here and if ready on his return from a three month break should be thereabouts.
Incomodo
This son of Roy took on a new lease of life when switched to the sand last season and after very quickly picking up four races, which included three over today’s distance, he went on to run a very creditable fifth in this season’s Emerald Cup. He’s been off the track since finishing a runner up in his only subsequent start last October and that would normally be a concern. Anton Marcus takes the ride though and that suggests that all is well.
Oil Tycoon
Ormond Ferraris’ charge completed a smart hattrick prior to being given a break in March and in our book he did then improve his rating when returning from a break last month. He’s been allotted a very nice draw for this his first try on the sand, and he does get every inch of today’s trip. He can still improve if taking to today’s surface and with Anthony Delpech hungry for the jockey’s title, he has to be seriously considered.
Fearless Gun
This son of Bite The Bullet finished runner up in the Emerald Cup in 2009, but he is without a win in 24 starts now, and worse off at the weights here with Galanthus than he was when well beaten by that one last time out, he does seem very unlikely.
Amatol
As with Fearless Gun, Dominic Zaki’s charge has not found winning easy of late. Indeed, he hasn’t graced the number one box since shedding his maiden tag at just the fifth attempt in Oct ‘09. He was beaten fair and square in his only previous try on sand and out at the weights here, has no easy task.
Xilomante
One of just three representatives of the fairer sex in the race, Paul Matchett’s charge has won three of her nine starts over today’s course and distance. Those successes were all gained over members of her own sex though, and she has not proven to be as effective when taking on the boys. She’s been reported as coughing in each of her last two starts and although she is very well treated at the weights, others are preferred.
Treading Water
Best of the rest could well be Full Moon Rising. Michael Azzie’s charge won his only previous outing over today’s course and distance and she is at the top of her game right now. She does jump up considerably in class here though, and will do well to make the frame.
The White Horse is as consistent as they come, but he does face a very stiff task here if he is to keep his string of placed runs in tact.
Sermon has been well below best of late and at the weights cannot be seriously considered.
About The Pace
They usually go a fair clip on the sand and although there isn’t a great deal of speed amongst this relatively large field, a decent pace should be forthcoming.
The talented Galanthus beat a number of these very comfortably on only 1kg worse terms last time out and if his legs hold up, he has to rate the one to beat again.
