Sean Tarry is aiming the classy Whiteline Fever at the 2014 Vodacom Durban July and he runs at the Vaal on Tuesday
Leading trainer Sean Tarry has confirmed that he is aiming Whiteline Fever at the Vodacom Durban July and is absolutely convinced that the son of Right Approach stays every inch of the 2200m. The dual Hawaii Stakes winner brings a touch of class and glamour to the Vaal on Tuesday where he contests a Pinnacle Plate.
The trainer who took Mike De Kock all the way to the wire in last season’s SA national champion trainer title race and is in the vanguard once again this year , said that he believed that both Whiteline Fever and his stablemate Skitt Skizzle were capable of going very close in the R 120 000 Racing Association Pinnacle Stakes run over 1200m. He did add though that both had ‘bigger fish to fry’.
July Bid
Sean Tarry is aiming to win a third July with Whiteline Fever
Tarry, who goes for a historic hat trick of Vodacom Durban July wins this year after Pomodoro in 2012 and Heavy Metal in 2013, said that Whiteline Fever was on track for the July. Whiteline Fever must be one of the most unluckiest horses yet to win a Gr1. The July could be his big chance.
“I know that he stays the July trip and that is our ultimate aim this season. I wanted to run him in the Drill Hall Stakes but it made no sense after he drew in the bush. So he runs on Tuesday and then he will go for the Gr1 Gold Challenge, which is a mile race at Clairwood. Thereafter it is straight into the July,” he said confidently.
Distance Question
The Daytona Stud bred Whiteline Fever has won 7 of his 31 starts, but has never managed to win over 1200m. Will he be competitive against a fair bunch?
“The distance is naturally a concern but I have Piere Strydom in the saddle and if he has any chance of winning over 200m shorter than he ever has, then he certainly will be given every opportunity. Punters must not overlook the fact that he ran a close up fourth behind the likes of sprint stakes runners like Here Comes Billy and Tiger Territory over 1160m in a Pinnacle at Turffontein in November 2013 at the international jockey meeting. We put the blinkers on there. I don’t think it worked.”
Over Issues
Whiteline Fever blotted his consistent formline in the recent Horse Chestnut 1600 when running 17 lengths behind Yorker. He was reported not striding out in front. We enquired as to whether he was over that problem.
“I don’t believe there were any major soundness issues that day. We did find some mucous in the trachea and I believe he could have been harbouring a mild respiratory illness. He is bright and well now,” he said.
Stallion Material
S’Manga Khumalo rides Skitt Skizzle
On the prospects of the Jet Master entire, Skitt Skizzle, who will be ridden by S’manga Khumalo, Tarry confirmed the connections’ rating of the Alchemy bred galloper. (* see note below)
“He is a very good horse but has reached a t–junction in his career. I am aiming him at the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint at Scottsville at end of May. After the outcome there we will know where we are going. We are much in the same position with him as we were with the ill – fated Fort Beluga. He is a big burly horse who weighs over 600kgs. It is not fair. He either needs gelding or is a stallion prospect. But the Golden Horse Sprint will tell us where we are headed. He is not too well in on Tuesday, but he could win it nevertheless. It is no secret what we think about his ability,” he said.
Big Smile
The Tarry duo have five opponents on Tuesday, with course and distance winners Snowdon and Geoff Woodruff’s classy 3yo Shadow Ofhis Smile the most likely to challenge. Snowdon gets the services of Weichong Marwing and has beaten better than many of those that he clashes with here.
Shadow Ofhis smile comes off a nine week break following his Gauteng Guineas run where he was not perservered with. Another horse with a big reputation, he warrants inclusion in bigger perms. But the Tarry exacta gets our vote as election fever builds.
*Ed note: Skitt Skizzle ran at Vaal on 1 May 2014. Finished second beaten 3,25 lengths by Anyday Anytime in a MR91 Divided Handicap over 1200m
