Too Strong. The classy Snowdon looks well weighted
With the Kenilworth Saturday meeting having been abandoned because of rain, and more rain in the region, the Turffontein meeting has taken on serious importance as the only local meeting in South Africa on our premier punting day of the week.
The fact that it is August, midwinter and slap bang in the middle of the month, will not exactly boost the exotic pools, but there is plenty of interest with Mike De Kock possibly setting up something of a record (certainly for an SA trainer) by campaigning horses on three continents on one day.
The eight race Turffontein programme is headed by a Pinnacle Stakes run over over 1160m and which gets the Place Accumulator under way.
Ormond Ferraris and top jockey Sherman Brown will be looking to get punters off to a great start in the place exotic when they team up with the Western Winter gelding Snowdon.
The 6yo has not run since returning from KwaZulu Natal and an unplaced effort behind Contador in the Gr1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint.
He had excuses there though as he failed to raise a gallop and returned with a swollen eye.
Reports are that his trainer believed the horse had been hit in the eye by a divot off the turf and that clearly affected his performance.
He is weighted to win this race easily, or though we well know that paper is a tricky surface, at times!
Ormond Ferraris . Trains Snowdon
Snowdon’s course and distance track record over the Turffontein 1160m is excellent, having run seven times for three wins and four places.
He returns here after an 84 day rest and runs without the blinkers. That is something that his trainer has experimented with from time to time. He will no doubt be keen enough running fresh.
An unusual Doowaley sprinter (the stallion has produced mostly staying sorts), Larussa met Snowdon over the course and distance in November and was beaten 9.50 lengths, receiving 8kg. She is 5,5kgs worse off here, and technically has no chance with Snowdon, if he is fit enough.
De Var Hyt looks the natural PA back up.
He is a talented son of Var, and could capitalise if Snowdon fluufs his lines.
He will be ridden by Piere Strydom for Louis Goosen.
The Bezrin gelding Dennis The Menace enjoys some relief via the 4kg claim of apprentice Franklin Maleking.
It looks tough for him.
The former Justin Snaith runner Great Fox has his fourth Gauteng outing and has yet to spark for the Grant Maroun yard.
Pole Star is yet another Snaith runner, who now runs for Johan Janse Van Vuuren.
He has been rested six months and should battle here.
Here Comes Billy is a son of Muhtafal and his last start well.
That was a course and distance effort but this will be tougher.
In a seven horse field, Snowdon will be a popular PA banker.
Whether he is worth a punt on the nose is another story entirely. Check the value first!
