The classy 8yo Across The Ice looks the right one
Champion Capetown Noir’s full brother Across The Ice is still a serious force to be reckoned with and Sean Tarry’s senior statesman looks poised to register the twelfth win of a distinguished career at the Vaal on Tuesday. He appears to have his six opponents well held and his old best mate Piere Strydom is back in the saddle.
As the class horse in the small field, Across The Ice is well suited by the weight terms of the Pinnacle Plate and he should offer Bipot punters a ready-made banker option.
The 8yo is a course and distance specialist and Tarry confirmed that his charge had pulled up ‘beautifully’ after his six length fourth behind Tommy Gun in the Gr2 Emerald Cup two weeks ago.
Across The Ice was drawn 12 out of 14 in Africa’s richest race on sand, but powered on impressively late in the race to collar the favourite Jet Jamboree, who was treading water at the 100m marker.
Veteran
Sean Tarry saddles Across The Ice
The Lammerskraal Stud-bred gelding has banked close on R1,3 million in earnings and has plenty of mileage on the clock, as he goes to start for his 63rd career outing.
But he is fit and well and the astute Tarry said that he personally held a slightly different outlook on age to many of his colleagues
“Look, my horses get very well looked after and receive five star care and treatment. If they are not putting it in at the business end of their races and showing a loss of enthusiasm, then that is a sign that it is time to turn it up. But if they are enjoying racing still, as Across The Ice, then we let them continue.”
Seasonal
Tarry is one of the most unluckiest trainers yet to be crowned SA Champion and after a decent August month, he has had a fairly quiet time of things of late.
“It is just a seasonal thing and I am not concerned. Naturally we all enjoy a flying start to any season but my horses will start showing their colours in November. I will only get going when the rains come and once all the housekeeping ring rustiness is behind us. But Across The Ice will be fit and ready as he has been in action every month.”
He sure looks the right choice and it must be a race for second.
Sweet Thing
Piere Strydom chasing 5000 winner mark and knows the Tarry horse
David Rahilly’s Sugar And Shake improved at his last start when running on well in an MR 104 Handicap for a 5,50 length fourth to Trip Tease.
He actually beat Across The Ice four runs back over the course and distance in receipt of 7,5kgs, and will have to up his game further as he has ‘only’ 4,5kgs in his favour.
His stablemate Pinot Noir appears to be battling to regain his better form of last season. He is a course and distance winner, and must have place money prospects.
Erasmus Duo
Leon Erasmus has two course and distance winners in the race.
The grey Stavinsky has not really handled the rise in class when way back at his last two starts.
He looks to have it all to do and would have to recapture his best earlier form to challenge Across The Ice.
Same Box
Much the same applies to Nice Stride who battled for much of last season.
None of his three outings this term inspire any confidence.
Captain Haddock ran a fair second at his penultimate start on the sand to Panjo, but his last run was just too awful to be true, when he faded right out to close on 17 lengths behind Shadow Line.
Depardieu has his issues and the entire has no chance on his form over the past year.
Easy Money
This looks to be one of the easier R75 000 cheque Across The Ice will earn.
Well suited by the course and distance, well favoured by the weights and with one of the world’s great jockeys in the saddle and a man who knows him well, he is a confident choice to get our Bipots off to a flyer.
Sugar And Shake could maintain his recent upsurge and run into second.
After that it is anything else for the rest of the money!
