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SPORTING POST • MONDAY 7th -THURSDAY 10th MARCH 2011
R25.00 No. 1710
MONDAY 7th - THURSDAY 10th MARCH 2011
ISSN 1023 / 6996
5
ARLINGTON
12:50pm (Monday) p.3
VAAL TURF
12:25pm (Tuesday) p.11
GREYVILLE NIGHT
5:20pm (Tuesday) p.19
DURBANVILLE
1:20pm (Wednesday) p.30
VAAL TURF
12:15pm (Thursday) p.35
Jet Command - five time wins
Ready To Strike FEVER TREE HANDICAP over 1400m at Greyville on Tuesday night Heading up a very competitive program in midweek is the non black type Fever Tree Handicap over 1400m at Greyville on Tuesday evening. Twenty nine runners were originally entered for the event, and yet surprisingly, only nine will go to post, writes STEVE FURNISH.
T
he veteran Keat’s Drift shoulders top weight. Equally at home on both good and soft ground, Deon Visser’s charge has gained four of his six career victories at this circuit. Five of those successes have been obtained over 1600m or more, but he has recently placed in good company over today’s trip and he is in good form at the moment. Alyson’s Bid The only coupling in the race is that of in form trainer Alyson Wright. She saddles both Jet Command and Whole
Kaboodle. Highly regarded from day one, Jet Command has already won five times from just thirteen starts. His five successes have all been gained over 1200m, but it is worth noting that he was only beaten two lengths when badly out at the weights in a pinnacle event here, in his only previous try over today’s distance. Log leader Anthony Delpech jumps into the saddle here and he has won on Jet Command before. Sparingly raced over the past twelve months, stable companion Whole Kaboodle has also shown flashes of real abil-
ity and both of his wins were gained at this circuit. He’s been battling to find his best form since returning from a layoff in August and is now without a win in eight starts. The stable has come to hand in no uncertain terms in recent weeks though and Whole Kaboodle has been dropped some 8 points by the official handicapper in just 5 starts. Thandolwami A runner up in the prestigious November Handicap in both 2008 and 2010, the 6yo Thandolwami is a bit of an enigma. He’s capable of producing a nice turn of foot and on his day, he is not far off the very best. His wins have been few and far between though. Indeed, since winning this race way back in 2009 he has been unable to find the winner’s enclosure in 23 outings. He was only beaten by the narrowest of margins when finishing best of all last time out though and with the vastly experienced Felix Coetzee in the saddle he could well be in the shake up again.
Thunder Creek At his best from the front, this 6yo son of Thunder Creek is undoubtedly still improving. He’s clearly not the soundest of characters having had two lengthy layoff’s over the past two years, but he has nonetheless won five of his last eleven starts. He put up a particularly gutsy effort when winning over 1450m in soft ground at Clairwood last time out and he does now have his third run after his latest rest. The Walrus As with Jet Command, Bart Rice’s charge is usually seen out over shorter. He’s developed a tendency to be a little slow into stride in recent starts and that has no doubt contributed to his recent dip in form. The Walrus does command a very nice turn of foot on his day though, and interestingly, he has won over 1300m at this circuit. Martial Eagle Dennis Drier’s charge has gained four of his five career wins over today’s distance and two of those successes were at this track.
He was in good form before being given this current three month break and he did give the impression on more than one occasion that further improvement might be forthcoming. He goes well when racing fresh and today’s rider Stuart Randolph was in the saddle on the last two occasions that he has found the winner’s enclosure. Roses For Lizzy The only female in the race, Roses For Lizzy has progressed well since returning from a nine month layoff in July. On paper, Roses For Lizzy is held by Jet Command on her latest start, but she was returning from a short break that day and should now strip fitter. Roses For Lizzy goes best when making the running and this will be the first time that she has raced at this circuit. It could well suit and having run a fair third in her only previous start around this distance, she has to be a runner.
When YYou ou Have That Vision TToo Mak Makee
The Big Catch
ItIt’s ’s Good TToo Know Who Stocks The Dam
The 4yo Dance With Mikey has gained all three of his career wins at this circuit. He cruised in by four over the course and distance in December and has since been keeping very good company. He does have a bit to find with Thandolwami and Keat’s Drift on his most recent outing, but he does have a pull at the weights with both here and should be thereabouts. About The Pace The speed is usually on over 1400m at this sharp circuit and we do have a few here who would want to lead them into the short home straight. The improving Jet Command is one of those and he does go well for jockey Anthony Delpech. He can still improve and on that, narrowly gets the verdict
Dance With Mikey
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