Sean Tarry’s classy 7yo Whiteline Fever has not won a race in over two years but his presence certainly brightens the Vaal afternoon programme today. He steps out under Triple Crown jockey Karl Zechner to contest a relatively modest handicap and looks to have his stablemate, Finchatton, to beat.
The Sean Tarry trained Whiteline Fever – class act
Coincidentally, both of the top two of the Tarry trio are sons of Right Approach and could well fight it out – although that doesn’t look cut-and-dried necessarily, with Mike de Kock’s Master’s Spirit catching the eye in a small field.
The Daytona Stud-bred seven-time winning Whiteline Fever topped the 2010 Cape Summer Yearling Sale, when he fetched R700 000.
A multiple Gr2 winner, he has earned over R1,8 million and could add to that total in the MR 95 Handicap over 1400m.
He ran on steadily for fifth and only 5,55 lengths back in the Gr2 Colorado King Stakes and has the edge on Forest Fox, as one example, on recent form.
Whiteline Fever peaked at a MR of 118 and off his 97 current rating, would only need to put his heart in it to have a say.
Sean Tarry – strong hand
His younger stablemate Finchatton is the form horse and steps up in class after showing up prominently recently.
He has a long road to walk to be mentioned in the same sentence as his illustrious team mate, but looks to be improving quickly.
The third of the Tarry trio is the 7yo Tiger’s Retreat. We have to travel back to December 2014 for his last win and his more recent form has been uninspiring.
He raced off a lifetime high MR of 106 at best, and has tumbled down to a point where he could find a spark – particularly over a trip he appeared to enjoy early on.
The 4yo Dupont gelding Forest Fox was a promising youngster but has proven himself an inconsistent and unpredictable customer over time.
A course and distance winner, he drops in trip after being comprehensively outplayed when over 8 lengths off Unparalleled in the Gr2 Colorado King Stakes.
He was reported fatigued after that run – which could be a sign that he just didn’t go the 2000m and with three weeks break, he could bounce back.
Master’s Spirit – could enjoy the extra
Promising apprentice Callan Murray has enjoyed some success for the Mike de Kock yard and he rides the bottomweight Master’s Spirit.
The goodlooking son of Jet Master was our midweek cover star last week, but ran on gently before being beaten into fifth and 4,25 lengths off Zortziko.
He runs like a horse who is looking for the extra – he ran a fair race at his only course and distance try – and must be a serious factor if repeating that last run.
Scott Kenny’s 6yo course and distance winner Shadow Line is a decent seven-time winner and ran a fair race on his return from a year long break when 7 lengths off Zortziko last time.
The son of Toreador will naturally strip fitter on Tuesday and any improvement can see him run into the place money.
The Brian Wiid trained National Key is never far off the action but failed to feature last time when eleventh out of twelve and 4,40 lengths off Greek Legend in an MR 102 Handicap over the Turffontein mile.
He is probably better suited to the shorter trip and meets Finchatton on 4,5kgs better terms that when beaten 2,50 lengths by the Tarry galloper in February.
The 7yo Bezrin gelding Dennis The Menace tries the extra after showing good toe at his last two starts before fading – to finish fourth in both instances.
The Stuart Pettigrew-trained gelding won two good races over the Vaal 1200m in February-March and could be a different proposition if ridden with more restraint.
Whiteline Fever and Finchatton should contest the finish, with Master’s Spirit worth another chance over the extra 200m.
The rest look much of a muchness – and those three should be enough in the Pick 6.
