R25.00 No. 1732
MONDAY 23rd - THURSDAY 26th MAY 2011
5
ISSN 1023 / 6996
in four outings either side of that success though and one is not quite sure what to expect here.
Freiburg The veteran Freiburg is without a win in 32 starts now and racing off a mark just 3 points lower than he was then is not easy to fancy.
FLAMINGO PARK
12:20pm (Monday) p.4
Abbottsbury
VAAL TURF
Brett Warren’s charge ran some promising races in similar company twelve months ago, but he did lose his way towards the back end of last season and was then laid off for nine months. He was beaten 22 lengths in his only outing since last month, and is best just watched for now.
11:55am (Tuesday) p.13
GREVILLE NIGHT 16:45pm (Tuesday) p.22
DURBANVILLE
12:00pm (Wednesday) p.34
VAAL
TURF
11:55am (Thursday) p.42
Weighted To Kill Soul Master - beat the subsequent Gr1 SA Derby winner last time out.
MR90 HANDICAP over 1700m at Vaal on Tuesday
With handicaps topping the bill at all five centres, racing in the main is of a very competitive nature in midweek. A full field of fourteen will go to post for the MR90 Handicap at the Vaal on Tuesday, where interestingly 49 were originally nominated, writes STEVE FURNISH.
H
eading the weights is the former Geoff Woodruff inmate Lago Lida. Now with Scott Kenny, this son of Encosta De Lago was well thought of earlier in his career and just four runs back was rated three points higher by the official handicapper than he is today. He’s come to hand nicely since returning from a five month layoff in April and was only beaten narrowly in a blanket finish last time. He has his third run after the rest here. He should go well.
Super Trooper St John’s Gray’s charge progressed quickly after shedding his maiden tag in December and prior to stepping up in class to contest feature events, he had won three of his last four starts. He’s been off the
track since finishing tailed off in the Gr1 SA Classic in March and that has to be a concern. He was finishing strongly when baulked for a run in the Egoli Mile in his penultimate start though, and could still improve plenty if all is now well.
winning the listed Thukela Handicap at Greyville last June though, he’s been unable to finish better than sixth in seven outings. He was eleventh in similar company in each of his last two starts and on those efforts cannot be fancied.
Geoff’s Bid
Caribbean Coast
The best of Geoff Woodruff’s two runners must surely be Soul Master. Beaten just once in four starts, this son of Jet Master has been going from strength to strength and was particularly impressive when quickening late to beat the subsequent Gr1 SA Derby winner Seal going away last time out. He can only improve and has to rate the one to beat. Stable companion Fort Petersburg was fourth in the Dingaans back in 2009. Since coursing a major upset when
The 6yo Caribbean Coast has gained two of his three career wins at this circuit. Since gaining the latest of those successes in November though, he’s only managed to make the frame once, and although the apprentice allowance should aid his cause, others are preferred here.
Knight’s Inlet Since shedding his maiden tag over 1600m in a workrider’s event in just his third career start, Weiho Marwing’s charge
DYNASTY Gr2 Beach CapBtureeHimauty Dynasty - Sun Coast by
winner in the
KRA Fillies Guineas
after being beaten fair and square against stronger in his next two starts and will no doubt have needed the outing when finishing down field over 1400m last time out. The dark horse! As with his two stable companions Humboldt has shown flashes of ability earlier in his career. He’s only raced twice Team Tarry since being reported as lame on Representing the stable of the off fore last June though Sean Tarry are all of Jazzy Drum, and having been well beaten in Hors D’oeuvre and the second both is not easy to fancy. reserve runner Humboldt. Mathafa On his return from a nine month break in March ’10, Alec Laird’s charge regularly Jazzy Drum won two of his catches the eye running on first three starts and looked strongly and is more than likely destined for better things. He a tad better than his current was laid off for a further six mark in the handicap would months after being beaten in suggest. He’s only managed to his next two starts though, and find the winner’s enclosure since his return in December, twice in twenty three starts he has been unable to finish though and he is taking on better than ninth in three out- stronger here than he has of ings. late. Hors D’oeuvre made up Casey’s Guest many lengths in the closing Lucky Houdalakis’ charge stages of the race when a runner ran on strongly when gaining up to the subsequent three time winner Paraguayito on debut the second of his two wins over and when cruising in by four in today’s course and distance in his next start, he looked to be a February and on that effort very useful sort in the making. would have a squeak here. He’s He was laid off for ten months failed to finish better than fifth
has been campaigned over further. He was finishing as well as anything when stepping up in class to contest the Gr3 Racing Assocation Handicap last time out and could still improve. That race was over 3200m though, and returning from a six month break here, he does seem unlikely.
Canute The Great Regular place getter Canute The Great runs on strongly on his day and if at best here would be thereabouts. He’s not found winning easy though, as is tally of just one win from 22 starts would attest, and currently out of form cannot be fancied.
Game Over Having won his maiden by eight and then finished a close up second from a wide draw in MR88 company in just his fourth start, Roy Magner’s 3yo has done very little wrong. Indeed, he’s been showing improvement with each outing and racing off just 54,5kg here could be a factor.
On The Bench Prior to being reported as not acting in the soft going in his last outing before a five month layoff, first reserve De La Danza was showing promise and interestingly, the going was also soft on his return last time out. He has plenty of scope for improvement being a 3yo and could be a surprise place getter in the Quartet.
About The Pace With a number of candidates for the role of front runner amongst the full field of fourteen going to post, at least a fair pace should be forthcoming. Lightly raced Soul Master beat Seal going away last time out and with that one having risen some 17 points in the official handicapper’s book after winning the Gr1 SA Derby in his only subsequent start, he is not easy to oppose.
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