Vaal trainer Louis Goosen won’t be taken things easy on our Youth Day public holiday today. The master horseman and specialist sprint conditioner saddles four of the ten runners in a 1000m Pinnacle Stakes at Turffontein where stable star Trip Tease turns out after a courageous effort in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint.
Louis Goosen
Goosen cautioned that although he saddles half the field in the competitive R125 000 Pinnacle Stakes, the opposition should not be underestimated as all of his five were at varying stages of preparation.
That said, he confirmed that he would not be surprised to see any of his quintet win it, although conceded that over the 1000m he had to lean towards Trip Tease.
Interestingly, with Captain Ellio a one-time winner, the balance of Goosen’s runners have won an amazing 34 races between them!
Asked why he was running Trip Tease here, he said that this was the only Pinnacle Stakes ‘for three months’.
Trip Tease – loves winning
“If we go back to that top horse Hear The Drums in PE, his trainer had a Pinnacle every month for 28 months! We have no such luxury unfortunately, so have to make do with what is on the programme. But I am looking to this run bringing him on and am looking at the Mercury Sprint next month at Greyville. But then only if he draws well,” he said.
Louis said that Trip Tease would possibly need this run and added that his star gelding’s blood picture had been completely ‘upside down’ after his Computaform Sprint run, when just under five lengths behind Carry On Alice in.
The fourteen-time winning Trip Tease has regular pilot Piere Strydom aboard on Thursday and carries joint topweight with his year younger stablemate Doing It For Dan.
The latter ran on Thursday at the Vaal but lost so much ground at the start, he may have stayed at home in his box.
Doing It For Dan needs to find form
He has not run for eight weeks and was scratched from the Computaform Sprint with a ‘raging’ temperature.
“Doing It For Dan and Paul Peter’s smart speedster African Ruler both registered temperatures of 42,5 at the same time. African Ruler showed good recovery with a cracking second in Saturday’s Tsogo Sun Sprint behind Talktothestars. Dan may need a run or two but he is a damn smart horse and it is a matter of time before he finds his feet again,” said Goosen.
One Man’s Dream is a seven-time winner and the 5yo son of Greys Inn gets some breathing space courtesy of a 4kg claimer.
Goosen’s One Man’s Dream – too talented to ignore
”He must have a place chance – he is too good to ignore,” cautions Louis.
The former Vaughan Marshall trained Avontuur bred Vincente ran second and followed up with a win at his first two starts for Louis.
He was beaten ten lengths by Carry On Alice at weight-for-age in the Computaform Sprint but is a very smart sort and as a course and distance winner merits consideration.
“Vincente is an exciting son of Var. We have a race in mind for him on July day – put a line through his last run and don’t let him run free here!” he said.
The former Barend Botes trained Captain Ellio has his fourth run for the Goosen yard.
The son of Captain Al was an 8,25 Vaal 1000m maiden winner earlier on but is apparently a bleeder and needs to be handled with kid gloves.
“We have to go a bit easy on him and we are just hoping that he gets through this unscathed. He has no weight on his back and is no slouch at his best,” said Goosen.
Of the rest, Greasepaint and Corne Spies’ erratic but very talented Captured Wind appear to be best.
The Mike Azzie trained Var 3yo Roquebrune was a well backed debut winner but has been rested 18 months and may need it – besides facing quality seasoned campaigners in a baptism of fire!
