R25.00 No. 1700
MONDAY 31st JANUARY - THURSDAY 3rd FEBRUARY 2011
ISSN 1023 / 6996
5
FLAMINGO PARK ..... 12:25pm
(Monday) p.4
VAAL SAND ............. 12:35pm
(Tuesday) p.13
GREYVILLE NIGHT ... 5:10pm
(Tuesday) p.20
DURBANVILLE ........ 1:05pm
(Wednesday) p.31
VAAL TURF ............. 12:50pm
(Thursday) p.37
Second World -a model of consistency on the sand.
5,5kg worse off at the weights) behind him when a runner up in his latest start and perhaps more significantly, he was running on the stronger when only beaten a neck by Saint Pierre (now 2kg worse off at the weights) in his penultimate start. Against Second World is his tendency to be slow into stride, but if the very talented and hard working Sherman Brown can get him out quickly, he should at least fight it out. The dark horse of the race is Second World’s lightly raced stable companion Benbow. He was only beaten a 1,2 lengths by Saint Pierre over the course and distance in September and after finding himself outclassed in a feature in his next start, he did then win his latest outing on today’s surface Benbow was only beaten 2,5 lengths by the progressive Mr Black Tom in his latest start on turf and he was disadvantaged by a slipped saddle in that event. This 3yo son of Bezrin could still improve plenty. It will be interesting to see how he goes.
Fuzzy Cuzzy Roy Magner’s charge has gained five of his seven career victories over today’s course and distance. He’s without a win in twelve starts now, but he has in the main been racing over further. He was running on nicely when only beaten three lengths by the talented sand performer Storm Crossing over 1200m in his latest start on the surface and now back over his favourite trip, he should be thereabouts.
Gangsta Fury
Lightning Stakes over 1000m at Vaal (sand) on Tuesday Heading up a very busy program in midweek are non black type races at both the Vaal’s sand track and Flamingo Park. Sprint races are to the fore at the Vaal on Tuesday where the highest rated runners contest the Lightning Stakes, writes STEVE FURNISH. houldering top weight is the Dominion Royale gelding Renegade. At his best on the sand, Louis Goosen’s charge has already won four times over today’s course and distance. Renegade is rarely out of the Quartet on this surface, but
S
Hurricane Force
As well as Renegade, trainer Louis Goosen is also represented by the Muhtafal gelding Hurricane Force. He too goes particularly well at this circuit having won four from ten, and three of those victories were over this distance. Since returning from a five month layoff in September though, he’s been battling to find his form and he does look well held by others in this race on his most recent effort winning has not come so easy on the surface. in recent months. His natural Powerful Coupling gate speed will see him right Trainer Paul Matchett saddles there when the race begins in Cruso and the 3yo Saint Pierre, and earnest and although he has to both are serious runners. Cruso was shoulder the super heavya fluent winner of the Hampton weight burden of 64kg, this is Handicap over today’s course and effectively a handicap and distance in his first start on sand. sprinters do tend to carry This son of Mogok beat both Renweight well. egade and Kentucky Express fair
and square in that event and although he is now a little worse off at the weights with those two here, he could confirm the form if repeating that effort. He’s been mainly campaigned on the turf since then though and as with his only subsequent outing on sand, he has been a little disappointing. Saint Pierre on the other hand has been improving nicely in recent months and he did win over today’s trip on his last visit to this circuit. He only held on by a neck from Second World when making all in that event and with that one now 2kg better off here, Leon Erasmus’ charge is weighted to turn the tables. Still a 3yo though, Saint Pierre does have the greater scope for improvement.
Kentucky Express Equally effective on the sand, as he is on the turf, Mike De Kock’s charge has bags of ability. He does also have his problems though, and that probably explains why he isn’t the most consistent. He looks sure to fight it out if on one of his better days and he does now get the talented Anton Marcus in the saddle for the first time since winning very easily by six on debut.
Leon’s Bid Trainer Leon Erasmus does particularly well on sand and in Second World he does have a very serious runner here. A very honest performer on this surface, Second World has shown good improvement in recent starts. He had Renegade (now
The 5yo Gangsta Fury is in good form at the moment and he has proven to be equally effective on sand. His four wins have all been gained over further though, and he is yet to finish better than third in four starts over today’s trip.
About The Pace The pace is usually on over today’s course and distance and with a number of the principals at home racing up with the speed, that should certainly be the case again here. There is little to separate a number of the runners on form and in particular Saint Pierre and Kentucky Express have strong claims. The ultra consistent Second World is also weighted to be right there though, and he will more than likely represent the value. He gets the vote.