R25.00 No. 1706
MONDAY 21st - THURSDAY 24th FEBRUARY 2011
5
ISSN 1023 / 6996
Sayadaw - expect a bold effort.
FLAMINGO PARK
12:20pm (Monday) p.4
VAAL TURF
12:30pm (Tuesday) p.13
GREYVILLE NIGHT
5:05pm (Tuesday) p.21
KENILWORTH
1:00pm (Wednesday) p.33
VAAL TURF
1:00pm (Thursday) p.40
As we all eagerly await the first leg of the Triple Crown and Triple Tiara this weekend, it’s a rather busy, but quiet program in midweek. A typically competitive MR94 Handicap heads up the fare at the Vaal’s Turf track on Tuesday, where most, if at their best would have a shout, writes STEVE FURNISH. MR94 Handicap over 1700m at Vaal (turf) this Tuesday
S
houldering top weight of 60kg is the 2008 Gommagomma Challenge winner Eddington. Dominic Zaki’s charge reached a high of 111 in the handicap after winning that prestigious event, but having not graced the winner’s enclosure in fourteen starts since, he has slipped right down to 94. He would look to have little chance here at first glance, but his best most recent effort was on his last appearance in handicap company on turf, and he is now 4,5kg lower in the handicap. He takes a considerable drop in class here. It will be interesting to see how he goes.
Amatol Stable companion Amatol had some fair form to his name earlier in his career and if at best would be thereabouts. As with Eddington though, he has not found winning easy of late and having been reported as lame on the off fore on his most recent outing when returning from a five month break in November, he is not easy to fancy.
Powerful Coupling Trainer Geoff Woodruff saddles both Grisham and Parade Prince and together they do look to be the stronger of the two couplings. When cham-
pion jockey Anton Marcus rides for Geoff he’s usually on the right one, but he couldn’t have done the weight on Parade Prince here and the booking of the very talented Felix Coetzee does catch the eye. Parade Prince has done best on sand thus far and he does have a higher rating on that surface His two wins on turf have both come over 1600m at this circuit though and currently at the top of his game having run on to take second behind the improving Wild Type last time out, one gets impression that he could yet improve his mark on turf. A very flexible character in
terms of distance, Grisham has ran close in top features to some very good sorts during his career, and yet, amazingly, he is yet to win anything other than a plate race. He’s without a win in ten starts now, but he has in the main been racing against stronger and he has recently started to drop in the handicap.
Casey’s Guest
After losing his form in the winter, Lucky Houdalakis’ charge came to hand nicely at the start of this season. Since gaining back to back wins though, this son of Casey Tibbs has been reported as being lame twice in four starts and having been beaten some sixteen lengths in similar comSayadaw Scot Kenny’s charge is also much pany last time out, he is perbetter on sand than he is on turf. haps best just watched here. Indeed, he’s up there with the best Freiburg on that surface and his major obIt is rare to see the veteran jective in 2011 must surely be the Frieburg at this circuit. Inprestigious Gr2 Emerald Cup. He deed, this will be only his is nonetheless a fair performer on fourth visit in 44 starts. Usuturf, and in our book, he did run ally one to race up with the his best rating for a while on the speed, Freiburg has proven surface over 2000m last time out. to be at his best around toGavin Lerena knows him well. day’s distance and would be Expect a bold effort. a threat if allowed a soft lead. He’s been given little respite Caribbean Coast Usually seen out in this class, the by the official handicapper Doowaley gelding Caribbean though, despite not finding Coast might not be the most con- the winner’s enclosure in 29 sistent, but he is nonetheless capa- starts and having just his secble. He’s gained two of his last ond run after a four month three wins at this circuit and if break here, it would be a bit finding his best form here, he of a surprise if he was successful. would be involved.
When YYou ou Have That Vision TToo Mak Makee
The Big Catch
ItIt’s ’s Good TToo Know Who Stocks The Dam
Royal Express The 5yo Royal Express was very consistent earlier in his career, seldom missing a place. He is without a win in ten starts now though and having been unable to finish better than sixth in each of his last five starts in similar company, he is not easy to fancy here.
About The Pace With the two most likely to make the running not being at their peak right now, there is a danger that this race will develop into a sprint. And that complicates what is already a very dangerous race. Sayadaw was a running on third to the subsequent listed Wolf Power Handicap winner Call To Combat four runs back and a repeat of that effort could well be good enough here.
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