The Seul Amour gelding Heart Of A Lion could prove the value
We have had it so good for so long and the lull was largely inevitable. There is no stakes race feature action anywhere countrywide this weekend as August is traditionally the housekeeping and holiday month in South African horseracing. But the staunch punter will still be trading blows and there will be plenty of racing to keep us guessing and gaming.
The topliner at Turffontein on Saturday is appropriately named in honour of the new single unified brand for horseracing that was launched with much pomp and splendour in Johannesburg on Tuesday evening.
This is definitely not the kind of meeting where the new target market will be found glamming and hamming it up, but the racing is competitive, albeit not particularly classy or inspiring.
Inside Out
The R110 000 RACINGITSARUSH.CO.ZA MR 96 Handicap is run on the Turffontein inside track mile and hosts a mixed bag of handicappers, headed by the topweight and very out-of-form, Chesalon.
The former Mike Bass-trained son of Fort Wood was good enough to run third in the 2012 Vodacom Durban July behind Pomodoro, but has done very little since.
He ran off a 110 merit rating in the July and has fallen to a 97. He will be ridden by recent Mauritius returnee Derreck David, but really cannot be fancied.
Brooks-Club will be ridden by Piere Strydom
Club Class
The same does not apply, however, to his stablemate, Brooks-Club.
The genius of Piere Strydom is aboard the now 6yo son of Strike Smartly, who won a cracker over the course and distance at his penultimate start.
He ran a 6,25 length fifth to the improved again Meissa at his last start over 1450m, but looks more effective at the mile.
Strydom will no doubt have had the choice of riding Brooks-Club or Flag Of France.
Less Effective
Flag Of France finished 1,25 lengths in front of Brooks-Club in the Meissa race and is now a half kilo better off. But is he as effective over a mile?
We doubt it, and Brooks-Club could turn the tables on him.
Dominic Zaki’s Rocco’s Luck beat all of Flag Of France, Brooks-Club and National Key in that same race, and meets the Azzie runner on level terms.
He is a half kilo worse off with Flag Of France and National Key and could be another who is better over this trip.
National Key is drawn at 1 and is a pacy frontrunner. His run behind Meissa(13,50 lengths) was not impressive though and he is another that Strydom could have probably ridden if he really chose to.
Newton Power is rather in and out but has ability when in the mood
In And Out
Johan Janse Van Vuuren’s Newton Power is a versatile but inconsistent galloper.
He comes in off a dismal sand effort when not showing for a 10,25 length finish behind Panjo on the Vaal sand last Tuesday.
He was withdrawn lame from an engagement on July day, so one can assume that he is being brought back to a reasonable level of fitness.
Gavin Lerena was aboard at his last winning ride and he could well be something of a surprise package amongst a rather indifferent bunch.
Big Heart
The Gavin Van Zyl-trained Heart Of A Lion has only had one outing in over seven months.
That was on 19 July when he ran 9,50 lengths behind Rambo when outpaced over 1000m.
This distance will be more up the son of Seul Amour’s alley and it is worth noting that he ran Triple Crown champion Louis The King to 0,75 lengths in the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes (1800m) in January.
He also won his three races by a combined 13,75 lengths in mid 2013, so is a talented fellow and if fit and well, could challenge.
Gary Alexander
Gary The Great
The Gary Alexander yard are on song at the moment and they saddle our top-rated Mr Mulliner.
The son of Mullins Bay ran a cracking second in the Gr3 Tony Ruffel Stakes behind Bouclette Top on 8 February but has not developed with any kind of genuine promise since. Sadly Bouclette Top also failed to go on with things.
Mr Muliner has his third run since a rest and may be worth a chance if setting the pace under the claiming apprentice.
The Chris Erasmus-trained Antarctic Call is battling to regain his form and win what looked like a very attainable third race at one stage.
The son of Announce is in under sufferance and needs major improvement to feature.
Plenty Of Pace
The race is a typical handicap and looks wide open.
There are a few out of form, but who would only need to reproduce their better form to have a shout.
There should be plenty of pace and this could suit the likes of the fit Brooks-Club and Heart Of A Lion.
