Soldiering On. The consistent Uncle Tommy looks set to register his tenth career win at the Vaal on Tuesday
The Kahal gelding Uncle Tommy is one of the most consistent racers around. His trainer Weiho Marwing appears to have found the perfect race for him at the Vaal on Tuesday. He looks ready to chalk up his tenth career win and it will certainly be a deserved reward for a horse who always puts his best foot forward.
With a smattering of day and night racing on the menu recently, there is just about something for every taste as we build up to the big seasons up North and down South. We revert to the Vaal sand again on Tuesday, where a R115 000 Pinnacle Stakes over the 1200m heads the eight race programme.
Pursuit Of Pleasure
Racing horses like Uncle Tommy make racehorse ownership a pleasure and what a soldier this fellow is. We have previously extolled the virtues and abilities of the eyecatching 6yo chestnut who has campaigned from three different yards, in four provinces and on seven different racecourses.
His 37 run career has produced 9 wins and 8 places to date, with stakes edging towards R800 000. He has probably never been better than he is at the current time and while we have to go back two months to the dusty plains of Flamingo Park for his last win, he ran two excellent interim places on sand, and is knocking hard for his next strike.
He ran a gallant third behind In A Rush in the Emerald Cup and showed up dangerously, before being outrun when just 3,25 lengths behind Gr1 winner Wylie Hall in a Pinnacle Plate last time. That was on the turf, and Uncle Tommy is just a few lengths better on the sand. Wesley Marwing, son of the trainer, who was aboard at his last win, rides him again here and claims a valuable 2,5 kgs.
Classy
Switches. The Charles Laird trained Distinguished looks to carry his turf form to the sand and could be a serious contender
Another son of sire Kahal is probably his chief danger here. The Charles Laird trained Darley Arabian winner Distinguished, looks a big runner, if he brings his turf ability to the sand. He certainly has plenty in his favour, with Jarryd Penny’s 4kg claim and a good draw, together with his gate speed and natural pace, is likely to count in his favour.
Inconsistent
The Mike Azzie runner Yukon Gold scored by more than nine lengths over the course and distance in an MR88 in July, when accounting for Escape Clause. He ran a fair race in the Listed Hampton Handicap on Emerald Cup day, when just over five lengths behind Cape Winter.
Piere Strydom rode him there, but has a preference for Across The Ice. That decision does not encourage any enthusiasm for Yukon Gold’s prospects. The son of Winter Romance is rather in and out, but is capable of springing a surprise.
Melting
Class Horse. The 7yo Across The Ice has lost his form recently, but must be considered with Strydom up from a good draw
The Sean Tarry trained Across The Ice ran an awful race in the Emerald Cup when finishing 21 lengths behind the shock winner, In A Rush. The full brother to Cape champion Capetown Noir has won 8 races and is a classy capable sort.
With Piere Strydom in the saddle and from a 1 draw, it would be foolish to discount him. But as a 7yo, he may well be past his best and will need to show more enthusiasm to feature.
On The Outside
Brett Webber’s Australian bred Hang Fire is a model of consistency, but will not be favoured by a wide draw in this field. He ran on steadily behind Nice Stride over 1000m last time for a 1,35 length fourth, and won his penultimate over 1200m in lower company. It is possible that he prefers the 1200m as a more mature horse, and must have a place chance here, if his draw does not do too much damage to his early opportunities.
Frustrating
Dominic Zaki’s Escape Clause is a winner of 4 races from 25 starts, but appears to be frustrated by recent efforts to secure a fifth win. He last won in September last year. While he is 2,5kgs better off with Yukon Gold for a 9,25 length defeat over the course and distance, he looks unlikely to turn the tables and it is of concern that he has respiratory noise issues from time to time.
Cameo Role
The Dupont entire Depardieu finally gets his chance on the sand after a court battle followed his elimination from the Emerald Cup. A horse with problems, he ran a fair race behind Potala Palace in the Gr3 Joburg Spring F&M Challenge, but then ran poorly to finish 12 lengths off Wylie Hall in a Pinnacle Stakes last Tuesday evening. His two runs in Gauteng have thus told us little, but he may warrant a chance on the sand.
Solid Choice
The rest look under pressure. Uncle Tommy is a confident selection, and he looks ready to win this from Distinguished and Across The Ice.
