Forest Of Dean finished a close up sixth in the Gr2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m in January.
Arlington 1800m on Friday
After all the glitz and glamour of Africa’s richest sand race last Saturday, racing on the local front is of a rather quiet nature this weekend. The Arlington 1800 heads up a very interesting card in Port Elizabeth on Friday where amongst the usual suspects are a couple that could upset, writes Steve Furnish.
Vangelis and Surfin’ USA have the highest official merit ratings in the race and with the conditions of this non-black type event favouring the better horses, they are the best in at the weights.
Vangelis
A winner of no less than thirteen races in the Eastern Cape, Gavin Smith’s charge has already won seven times at this circuit. Vangelis has more often than not been seen out over shorter, and twelve of his thirteen successes have been gained over a lesser distance than he races here. This 8yo son of Kahal has been performing a little below best since completing a hat trick in Mar ’10 though, and as a result he has only found the winner’s enclosure once in his last 20 outings. He has finished close up in each of his latest two starts in similar events though, and fairly drawn here, should be involved in the finish again.
Makzoos
As well as Vangelis, trainer Gavin Smith is also represented by the 6yo Makzoos. Formerly campaigned in Natal, Makzoos has done well since relocating to the Eastern Cape, winning four of his ten starts. He is yet to score beyond 1600m and strictly on the book, he does have a few pounds to find with those higher in the weights. This son of Modus Vivendi did have a number of today’s runners behind him when out at the weights in a pinnacle event over today’s course and distance last time out though, and on that effort alone he has to be a very serious runner here.
Surfin’ USA is weighted to fight it out
Surfin’ USA
Third in the Natal Guineas way back in 2007, the veteran Surfin’ USA did win this race two years ago, and he was only run out of it late when fifth last season. His form has been a little in and out since returning from a seven month break in May, and interestingly his two efforts at this circuit have not been good ones. Jacque Strydom’s charge was running on strongly when finishing ahead of both Ecole Militaire and Vangelis in the non-black type Founders Trophy over 1600m at Fairview last time out though and a repeat of that effort would put him right there.
Jacque’s Trio
Making up the trio of 8yo’s from the stable of Jacque Strydom are both Cape Trafalgar and Key Castle.
Cape Trafalgar has won four times over 1800m in his career and those victories include success in this race last season. Since winning this event off a seven point higher mark in the handicap though, this son of Captain Al has only managed to find the frame twice in thirteen outings. His four starts since returning from a three month break in August have been particularly poor and on those efforts a repeat success here looks very unlikely.
The veteran Key Castle was in the form of his life at the back end of last season and wound up a tremendous campaign locally by completing a hat trick in the PE Gold Cup. Usually seen out over further, those three successes were gained over a minimum of 2800m. This trip would look to be too sharp on those efforts, but he has won over 1800m earlier in his career and he did finish a runner up when last raced over today’s trip.
Time And Love
A winner of nine races in the Eastern Cape, the 7yo Time And Love has won eight times at this circuit. He goes beyond a mile for the first time here and although he has won over 1600m most of his successes have been gained over 1400m. His style of racing would suggest that he’ll appreciate the extra though, and if at best he would have a shout. He’s has been sparingly raced since being reported as not striding out in the prestigious Gr1 Queen’s Plate in January and he will no doubt have needed the outing when returning from a five month break last time out. It will be interesting to see how he goes.
Justin’s Trio
Best in at the weights of Justin Snaith’s three runners is Jean Roi. This son of Pivotal is capable of producing a fair turn of foot on his day and he is at his best around today’s distance. What is interesting here though is that all of his best form has been achieved on soft ground, and he is yet to finish better than third with the going on top. The going is likely to be good with very little rain forecast in the lead up to this event and the booking of jockeys would suggest that he is not the stable elect.
Rarely out of the frame, Club Montreal is as consistent as they come and with the hard working Sherman Brown in the saddle he is sure to give of his best. He’s gained most of his successes over 2000m, but he did complete a very smart hat trick when winning over today’s course and distance in June. He does step up in class here though and out at the weights to boot, he has no easy task.
After shedding his maiden tag over today’s distance at Fairview in July’ 10, the 5yo Social Master showed considerable improvement, winning five of his next seven starts. He looked to be destined for better things at that stage of his career, but was then off the track for four months after finishing down field next time out. He’s been steadily coming to hand since returning from that layoff in June and he did put in his best effort since his return when only beaten a length and a quarter in the Founders Trophy last time out. Social Master won his only previous start over today’s course and distance and with Richard Fourie in the saddle one would expect him to be the stable elect.
Ecole Militaire
A veteran of some 52 starts, Ecole Militaire has gained two of his last three wins over this 1800m trip at Arlington. Beaten just a length and a half in the Founders Trophy last time out, Des Mclachlan’s charge is as honest as the day is long. He is without a win in seventeen starts now though and although another bold effort can be expected, the sequence could well be extended.
Forest Of Dean
A very interesting entry here is the Cape Town raider Forest Of Dean. Sparingly raced during the course of last season, this 6yo son of Silvano showed considerable improvement after returning from a four month break in June. Indeed, he won three in a row and he was making steady headway when fifth in heavy going in his only subsequent outing. At his best around today’s distance, Paddy Kruyer’s charge was only beaten 1,6 lengths by the useful Lion In Winter over today’s distance in the Gr2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m in January and fairly treated at the weights with most here, he should fight it out.
Superfederation
Mitch Wiese’s charge has performed with credit since relocating from Gauteng and fully deserved his win in handicap company three runs back. Usually one to race up with the speed nowadays, Superfederation has been well beaten in similar company twice since though, and out at the weights here and poorly drawn to boot, he does look unlikely.
Ozzie Dude
The sole representative from the stable of Alan Greeff is former Gauteng campaigner Ozzie Dude. He’s been very consistent since moving south and his two wins have come at this circuit. Those successes came from fifteen starts in handicap company though, and now up in class and out at the weights to boot, he clearly has a very stiff task here.
Spy Glass
Formerly with Mike De Kock, the Fort Wood gelding Spy Glass won well over today’s course and distance when making his local debut in August. That was in a MR78 Handicap though and he has failed to make his presence felt against stronger in two starts since. He steps up even higher in class here and although he will no doubt find further success in the Eastern Cape, he is up against it at the weights here.
About The Pace
A brisk gallop is usually the norm at this sharp circuit and with fourteen runners going to post that should certainly be the case again here. The usual suspects are weighted to fight it out, and are sure to be thereabouts. Age is starting to catch up with them now though, and the younger runners, especially those from out of town are a real threat. Forest Of Dean is one of those, and despite his widish draw, it is he who gets the vote.
