Class at Scottsville! Varsfontein Stud bred Garibondy looks a good bet on Wednesday. Var’s daughter is trained by Paul Lafferty and is a winner of two of three starts.
It is difficult getting overly excited about the general quality of racing at this time of the year. It is after all the traditional quiet period when many trainers catch up on matters of housekeeping and annual leave. Life goes on for the ardent enthusiast and diehard students of form, who will doubtless be plugging away for that life altering big payday.
A glance over the programme for the forthcoming week tells a story of some minefield fixtures, where form is more scarce than the champions and big names who are currently soaking up the sun in exotic far flung destinations, enjoying the fruits of their achievements.
Rewarding
The R94 000 MR 90 Handicap to be run over 1400m on the Vaal inside on Tuesday is a contest where a shrewd choice could prove quite rewarding. The race sees a mix of the sexes facing each other, and some potential value below the surface.
St John Gray trains the Fastnetrock gelding Adams Rock for owner Michael Leaf, who has enjoyed a good run with his Australian products. The 4yo has won 2 of his 11 starts and stands out in this field on his proximity to some of the better sorts of his generation last season.
He finished a four length second to the treble achieving Heart Of A Lion over the Turffontein mile. Heart Of A Lion then showed up smartly and very prominently when running fifth and just over three lengths behind Kochka in the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes on Super Saturday.
Adams Rock last run was a trifle flat, but hardly a disgrace when just out of the placings in a bunched finish behind Tiger Play. He looks good enough to atone here.
Dancer
The Lucky Houdalakis trained Right To Tango runs for Chase Maujean, and has shown good ability at stages of his short career to date.
He was well beaten by Adams Rock last time out when giving away 2kgs, but now meets the Gray runner on 1,5kgs better terms. That last run was just not Right To Tango’s form, and his runs to the likes of Yorker, Master Sabina and Peregrine indicate that he is capable of much better. He also beat Adams Rock, albeit narrowly, when shedding his maiden.
Tough Cookie
The National Emblem mare Fanzene is a tough lady and has won five races. She has to lump a hefty weight against some fair and possibly more enthusiastic males, and has a tough task here. She beat Rails Run over the course and distance last time, but this will be tougher.
Deon Sampson rides the Mogok filly Moggytwoshoes for Louis Goosen . The 4yo has run two fair seconds recently against her own sex and shed her maiden over the course and distance back in February. She is obviously fit and well and looks a nice place prospect at best.
Champion
Newly crowned SA champion jockey Piere Strydom is back from his break and partners the Brian Wiid trained Brother In Arms from a good draw. This two time winning son of Cataloochee won his penultimate start with the champion jockey in the saddle, but ran below best last time when just under seven lengths behind Dennis The Menace after showing good pace.
Bradley Maroun’s five time winner Rabadash showed a glimmer of a form return last time when dropping in class and running on smartly in a lowly rated handicap. He did not have the easiest of passages in the final 300m there, and may be edging back to his better form. He deserves consideration as a proven soldier in this field.
Purse Strings
Dom Zaki’s Mellifont gelding City Treasurer showed a sudden form return to win his last start, and carries just 48kgs here for the services of apprentice Jarryd Penny. The shrewd R10 000 purchase appears to find his feet in midyear, and now needs to prove that his last victory was no flash in the pan.
Uphill Battle
It looks very tough for the rest.
Brian Wiid’s Var mare Varlet, last won in early January and has lost her form recently. She also has a hefty weight to carry here from the widest of the draw.
It is worth noting though that she has won five races and is stakes placed.
Romeo Francis’ Flag Of France is a course and distance winner, who would probably like to discard his shocking last two outings. He does show a lot of pace but has shown a tendency to fade badly late in his races. He needs to improve many lengths to have any chance here.
Spike Lerena’s Havana Beat has won 3 of his 31 outings and ran a shocker on the sand last time out behind Yukon Gold. He appears much better on the turf, and would have a place chance if lifting his game to the level of his previous better form.
The Barend Botes trained Your Move won his maiden in runaway style in February over the course and distance, but has run over forty lengths behind at his next two outings.
That is hardly inspiring stuff and he has no chance, unless producing something from nowhere.
Value Choice
Adams Rock looks the obvious choice on the collateral of his runs to the likes of Heart Of A Lion.
If we discount that last run, then Right To Tango may just be the value to bounce back to his best and bolster Pick Six and Jackpot dividends. He had excuses at his penultimate start when baulked late in the race.
Beyond these two, it could be just about anything for the minor money.
