Mooghamir – WITHDRAWN
Racing enthusiasts may need to tread wearily at Turffontein today where scratchings have reduced the 3yo Handicap (race 4) to just six runners. Included in the withdrawn trio is our original selection, Mooghamir.
The Gr1 winner Mahbooba won his races in South Africa, Dubai and England and multiple champion conditioner Mike De Kock will be hoping that Mooghamir will go on to emulate or even better the feats of his full-brother.
Surprise
Mike De Kock
The Australian-bred Galileo colt, raced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, surprised his connections with an excellent 40-1 debut effort against winners over a mile in KZN during the winter.
He went off at understandably generous odds under Brian Nyawo, and despite a slow start, finished strongly for second, beaten just over two lengths by a quality sort in Mike Bass’ Visionaire gelding, Jet Air.
He was taken out when carded to race on the delayed Super Saturday meeting due to a respiratory tract infection, but bounced back in style over 1800m on the Vaal sand two months after his debut, when streaking home by 8,25 lengths to account for an admittedly modest maiden bunch.
“I think he’s a decent sort and he will develop into a good stayer,” said assistant trainer Mathew de Kock of Mooghamir at the time.
On Thursday he has his third start and gives weight to his rivals, bar Dominc Zaki’s topweighted recent debut winner, Samurai Blade.
Ratings
How good is Mooghamir, or any of his relatively lightly tried rivals at this point?
Samurai Blade is a son of Where’s That Tiger and beat long-time battling maiden Sir Trippi going away – he also has his third start. It is difficult deciding what to make of the form, but he did run on steadily at his first start when finishing a 3,25 lengths sixth to Kununata – whose post maiden effort didn’t exactly have the talent scouts knocking.
Mike De Kock has two others in the race – both are well-bred maidens.
Kinaan is another striking son of Galileo, and his three runs have produced a solitary second behind Mountain Boy at his second jump – on the Greyville poly.
He is out of a full-sister to Danehill and the blood suggests we ignore his form and give him a few more chances as he tries further.
The Silvano gelding Barbarian has had two races since a break. At his first he stayed on well for second and was blowing afterwards.
Fitter next time, jockey Muzi Yeni lost his whip and he was run out of it into fourth and only 1,40 lengths behind Seeking The Dream.
He reverts to the turf here, and is not without hope.
Form Yard
Mike Azzie – in the scheme of things
Mike Azzie’s yard is in form and his King’s Apostle colt Scheme Of Things looks to be going about things the right way.
After a promising debut second, he stepped up 200m and won his second start fluently.
Stuart Pettigrew’s Dawn Rain won his second start, but was then outpointed against older horses in a low rate handicap.
He finished 7 lengths behind the highly thought of Champagne Haze last time on this track and may improve over the extra ground.
Joey Soma-trained Off To Gaul won a workriders at his third start after two familiarisation runs – both reasonable fifth places where he started quite fancied.
He only beat the professional maiden Arabian Bay by under a length – so let’s wait and see how he steps up to this challenge.
No Jacket
Blue Blazer has run his two best races on the soon to be extinct sand surface.
The son of Miesque’s Approval failed to show at his post-maiden run on grass, so cannot be fancied.
Chris Erasmus’ Toreador gelding Camps Drift carries just 52kgs, courtesy of his apprentice claim.
He beat Blue Blazer at his penultimate start – his only earning effort in seven runs.
That suggests that De Kock’s unexposed well-bred Aussie may be a better bet at this stage of the game.
And also bear in mind that the merit ratings of the lightly raced young guns can be taken with some salt at this point.
