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SPORTING POST • MONDAY 14th -THURSDAY 17th FEBRUARY 2011
R25.00
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No. 1704
MONDAY 14th - THURSDAY 17th FEBRUARY 2011
ISSN 1023 / 6996
at Turffontein (standside) this Tuesday evening
Gr3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap over 1000m
Moroccan four wins from five starts.
FAIRVIEW
12:50pm (Monday) p.3
SCOTTSVILLE
12:30pm (Tuesday) p.11
TURFFONTEIN NIGHT
5:25pm (Tuesday) p.20
DURBANVILLE
1:05pm (Wednesday) p.30
VAAL SAND
12:30pm (Thursday) p.36
Heading up a very busy program in midweek is the Gr3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap at Turffontein on Tuesday evening. The race always attracts a large field and with all of the runners racing off their true mark in the handicap this time around, an exciting affair can be expected, writes STEVE FURNISH.
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haring top weight of 60kg are both Strike Paradise and the runner who could well top the boards, Moroccan. Beaten no more than 2,25 lengths when conceding 4,5kg to Moroccan in two of his most recent starts, Strike Paradise has regularly been thereabouts in these types of events, and he was also only beaten two lengths in this event last year. He’s been unable to find the number one box in 21 starts now though, and returning from a break here, a win looks unlikely. Moroccan Weiho Marwing’s charge won two in a row after finishing fourth in this event last season and then went on to run a good third to J J The Jet Plane in Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint at Scottsville. He was off the track for seven months after finishing fourth in the Durban Merchants in June, but did then show his well being in no uncertain terms when winning over today’s course and distance on his return in a Pinnacle Stakes last time out. He’s won four of his five starts at this circuit and looks sure to fight it out. Exclaim’n’exclude A bit of an enigma, Charlie Laird’s charge has won with authority in four of his six starts in Natal, his only defeats in that province coming when third
in two Gr1 events. He is yet to win in six starts in Gauteng though, and having been comfortably beaten by Two Tone on similar terms last time out, others are preferred. Sole Coupling The only coupling in the event is that of Michael Azzie who saddles both Two Tone and Vacherin. Formerly with Wendy Whitehead in Natal, the lightly raced Two Tone made good progress last season and on occasions showed flashes of real ability. He commands a very powerful turn of foot on his day as he showed when beaten less than half a length by the useful Jinzo last May and he was flying up late when slamming a useful field by five in a Conditions Plate over 1200m at the inner track last time out. A winner of three of his five starts to date over this distance, Two Tone has his third run after a rest here. Strictly by the book, he is held by Moroccan on their meeting when they were both returning from a break in January, but Two Tone did improve stacks when winning last time out and on that, he has to be a very serious runner. Thought good enough to contest the Gr1 Gold Medallion at Scottsville earlier in his career, Vacherin has clearly been below best in his four starts since returning from a layoff in November, and having been reported as not striding out last time out, he cannot be seriously considered.
Magico One of just two 3yo’s in today’s event, Magico is at his best over today’s distance. Indeed, his only defeat in five starts over 1000m came when only 2,65 lengths off the up and coming What A Winter in the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship last time out. He’s won well in each of his two previous outings over today’s course and distance and having greater scope for improvement than his older rivals, a win is certainly not beyond the bounds of possibility here. Battlestar Express Although Battlestar Express has been keeping good company since returning from a ten month break in October, he has failed to finish better than seventh in four starts and is best just watched for now. Mary Lou The only female in the race, Mary Lou started the season in great style, winning three in a row. Those victories were all gained in plate races though, and she has been well beaten in handicap company, and when taking on the boys, in her three starts since. Renegade Louis Goosen’s charge is undoubtedly at his best on
sand, but he has nonetheless run some very good races on turf. He’s currently well weighted on his earlier form and he is 2,5kg better off at the weights with Moroccan here for a two length beating in his penultimate start. Moroccan was finishing much the stronger in that event though, and Renegade has not managed to get his head in front on today’s surface since landing a progress event in March ’08. Opening Night Clinton Binda’s charge was only beaten 2,75 lengths in this event last season and having won his last two starts, he is clearly well. Those latest two successes have been achieved against much weaker on sand at Flamingo Park though, and he does now race here off a mark two points higher than he did last season. Natal Raiders The best of the four runners making the trip up from Natal on the day could be the 5yo Mr Mickey Mouse. He showed tremendous improvement during the course of 2010 and wound up that campaign with a hattrick. He was given a two month break after the latest of those successes, but did then show his well being on his return last time out when only picked off late over today’s distance by the aforementioned Jinzo. Mr Mickey Mouse won
WINDRUSH
the listed Golden Loom Handicap over today’s course and distance on his only previous sortie out of Natal. Expect a bold effort. Tetelestai also showed big improvement at the back end of last year and he has won three of his last five starts. He could be a tad better than rated having won the latest of those wins in a plate race, but on his most recent outing behind Jinzo, he does look held by Mr Mickey Mouse. Tirade showed flashes of real ability earlier in his career, but he has been below best for quite a while now, and having been beaten fair and square by Mr Mickey Mouse in that race won by Jinzo, he too should be held. The dark horse of the quartet is the lightly raced 3yo Furious Dancer. After showing promise in his early outings as a juvenile last season, Kom Naidoo’s charge started off this campaign with two very good wins on sand. He was returning from a four month layoff when only 2,25 lengths off Jinzo (his first start on turf this season) last time out and had he not have been cramped 150m from home he would surely have finished closer. Furious Dancer must hold some kind of a chance on that, and he could still improve plenty.
(USA)
6th Leading Sire & Sire Gr1 Mother Russia YEARLINGS AT THE 2011 SALES
Highlands sires - ANTONIUS PIUS (USA) • DYNASTY • IMPERIAL STRIDE (GB) • JALLAD (USA) • SPECTRUM (IRE) • WINDRUSH (USA)
Kayhaladin A winner of five of his 23 starts to date, the 5yo Kayhaladin left the Cape at the top of his game. Usually one to run on stoutly from off the pace though, this son of Kahal has gained four of those wins over 1200m with his only victory over today’s distance being when he shed his maiden tag some two years ago. Mr Black Tom The most lightly raced runner in the field Mr Black Tom has done very little wrong. Indeed, he’s won four of his six starts. The pack were closing in quickly when he won last time out, but having done his work early, he could, as they say, do no more than win. Mr Black Tom does now take a big step up in class, but further improvement could well be forthcoming and if it is, he’s a runner. About The Pace With most of the sixteen at their best over the minimum distance, the pace looks sure to be on. That will suit the likes of Moroccan and Two Tone and they are my fancies to fight it out. Moroccan usually races the closest of the two to the pace, and that might just make the difference.
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