R25.00
! e u l a V t s e B Best Bet!
No. 1724
MONDAY 25th - THURSDAY 28th APRIL 2011
ISSN 1023 / 6996
6
FLAMINGO PARK
12:10pm (Monday) p.3
KENILWORTH
12:50pm (Monday) p.12
VAALSAND
1:00pm (Tuesday) p.20
GREYVILLENIGHT
5:15pm (Tuesday) p.32
SCOTTSVILLE
12:15pm (Wednesday) p.39
VAAL
Made To Measure 11:45am (Thursday) p.46
Sayadaw - won seven of his fourteen starts at Vaal on sand.
HIGHVELD SAND CHALLENGE (L) over 1600m at Vaal this Tuesday night Heading up a very busy six card program in midweek are two listed races at the Vaal’s sand track on Tuesday. A full field of sixteen go to post for the Highveld Sand Challenge where amongst the usual suspects are some likely improvers, writes STEVE FURNISH.
S
haring top weight of 60kg are all of Sayadaw, Storm Crossing and Alimony. They all met in the prestigious Gr2 Emerald Cup over 1450m in September and the one who came out best that day was Alimony.
Alimony St John Gray’s charge is now worse off at the weights with his fellow top weights here though, and he hasn’t managed to get his head in front in twenty starts since landing the Emerald Cup back in 2008. He returns from a three month break here and drawn wide to boot, is not easy to fancy.
Storm Crossing Having won three of his last five starts, Mike De Kock’s charge is at the top of his game at the moment, and he couldn’t have been more impressive when flying up late to win his first ever start over the minimum distance last time out. Storm Crossing looks sure to be involved on bare form, but he is drawn very wide at 15, and that is a disadvantage for any rider, let alone an apprentice. Is Storm Crossing the stable elect though? Stable companions Burmese Cat and Boylan Blaze both have some very useful earlier form to their names on turf.
his two fellow top weights fair and square in a pinnacle event, and he is now better off at the weights with both. He’s also drawn well and has the in form Gavin Lerena in the saddle. Sayadaw may well have needed the run when returning from an eight week break last time out and if now near his peak Indeed, Burmese Cat won the should be right there. Eastern Cobbler listed Storm Bird Stakes in just his third career start. He’s been A winner of five from eleven coming to hand nicely follow- at this circuit, Roy Magner’s ing a year’s absence after that charge would have a shout if win and already proven on sand, finding his best form. He will and now going a mile for the have needed his latest outing first time, he could still improve when racing on the surface for plenty. the first time since finishing sevBoylan Blaze also has his third enth in the Emerald Cup, and run after a rest here. He ran on is sure to strip fitter here. well when getting up in the very Lochlorien last stride to beat chrysalis over At his best racing up with, or 1450m here last time out and is close to the speed, Michael sure to appreciate the extra. Azzie’s charge is in very good Sayadaw form at the moment. He was Scott Kenny’s charge was a finishing strongly when only little disappointing in the Em- beaten a length and a half by erald Cup, but he has since beaten Boylan Blaze last time out and if reverting to his usual tactics,
over a trip on which he has Star Of Destiny won one from two, he should This 7yo son of Rich Man’s Gold be in the shake up. has done well on sand. He is yet to win in 21 starts on any surface over Chrysalis Vaughan Marshall’s charge today’s distance though, and havhas taken well to the sand and ing run below par in both outings was only picked off very late since being reported as lame on the when a runner up over 1200m off fore, he is not easy to fancy here. here last time out. He is yet to Forest win over further than 1400m, Geoff Woodruff’s charge has won but he did run a fair race when two of his six starts at this circuit and close up in a graduation event he did impress when winning the over today’s distance in No- non black type Vaal River Handivember. He can still improve cap over 1800m here in his latest plenty being a 3yo, but he outing on the surface. Whereas he does set off from a very wide went into that earlier sand campaign draw here, and usually one to in good form though, he races here race up with the speed, that on the back of two below par perhas to count against him. formances where something was reported as amiss. A dark horse. Mystic Stable companion Parade Prince A veteran of some 34 starts at this circuit, Mystic is sure to has also done well at this track and be doing his best work late. he too would not be without a He was well beaten by chance if finding his best form. Lochlorien in his latest outing Against him is a wide draw, but he on the surface, but he was does run on stoutly on his day and staying on gamely in that event he has won three of his nine previand does now have his third ous starts over today’s course and run after a rest. He has a squeak distance. if at best. >> cont. on page 2