R25.00 No. 1734 ISSN 1023 / 6996
MONDAY 30th MAY - THURSDAY 2nd JUNE 2011
4
FAIRVIEW 11:45am (Monday) p.3
VAAL SAND
11:45am (Tuesday) p.12
SCOTTSVILLE 11:20am (Wednesday) p.25
VAAL TURF 11:50am (Thursday) p.34
The highest purse on offer in midweek is that put aside for the winner of the MR104 Handicap over 1450m at the Vaal’s sand track on Tuesday, writes STEVE FURNISH. MR104 HANDICAP over 1450m at Vaal (sand) on Tuesday
T
he course specialist one to race handy, that has to Storm Crossing count against him. Anthony shoulders top weight. Delpech does know him well though and if he can get him Storm Crossing placed early, he should be A winner of seven of his involved again. fourteen previous outings on Queen’s Bay the surface, Storm Crossing Although more often than goes particularly well over today’s trip. He’s at the top of not seen out on turf, the Fort his game right now and having Wood mare Queen’s Bay has an been drawn in the bush when outstanding record at this 3,75 lengths behind his stable circuit. Indeed, her only defeat companion Burmese Cat in the in four starts here came in the Listed Highveld Sand prestigious Gr2 Emerald Cup Challenge over 1600m here in which she wasn’t particularly last time out, he did have well drawn. She’s been coming excuses. This son of Western to hand nicely since her return Winter has a good draw here from a four month break in and looks sure to fight it out. April as her second placing to the useful Fisani in the Gr2 Burmese Cat Gerald Rosenberg Stakes last Stable companion Burmese time out will attest, and now Cat won the listed Storm Bird having her third run after the Stakes prior to his recent 12 rest here she should be at her months layoff and at that stage peak. She has a very nice draw of his career looked to be a top here, and at her best racing up sort in the making. His two with the speed, must have serious starts on turf have both been claims. well below par since his return, Alimony but on sand he’s done nothing The veteran Alimony was wrong. He’s drawn widest of the eleven here, and usually completing a four timer when
winning the prestigious Gr2 Emerald Cup back in 2008, but amazingly, he’s failed to find the winner’s enclosure in 21 starts since. He has sporadically run some very good races in the interim though, most notably when a runner up in the Emerald Cup again this season. He finished in front of Storm Crossing in that event and he is 3kg better off at the weights with that one here.
Geoff’s Trio The highest rated of Geoff Woodruff’s three runners is the 5yo Norquinco. This son of Orpen showed real promise earlier in his career and he has previously won over today’s course and distance. He was only a short head behind Storm Crossing when they were both beaten by the subsequent Emerald Cup winner Iron Curtain in a pinnacle event in his latest outing on the surface and 6kg better off at the weights here with that one, would clearly be a very serious runner if at best. He does return from a break of eleven months here though. Watch the betting.
Storm Crossing – Has won seven from fourteen on sand Returning from an even longer break is Dealsdunn. He’s been off the track for 15 months. He’s won three of his four starts on today’s surface, his only defeat coming in the non black type Vaal River Handicap back in 2009. His three successes were all gained over further though and he is more than likely just having a warm up here. In all probability then, the stable elect on the day will be Acrisius. Yet to race on sand, Acrisius hasn’t managed to find the winner’s enclosure since November 2009, but he does nonetheless have some very useful form to his name. He showed his well being when only beaten a length and a quarter over 1200m on his return from a six month break last time out and now back over a more suitable trip could be a threat if taking to the surface.
charge is clearly at the top of her game right now, and she has won three of her nine starts at this circuit. She looks sure to give a good account of herself setting off from gate three, but she is yet to win over a trip shorter than 1600m on the surface and now up against the boys, she won’t find it easy.
• Antonius Pius • Dynasty • Windrush
Italian Stakes Placed 3rd EXOTIC GIRL (IRE)
Antonius Pius—Burn (Selkirk)
in the PPremio remio TTadolina adolina RRome ome in Italy
Parlotone Having already amassed stake earnings of over R377000, Parlotone has been a tremendous servant to connections. That tally looks sure to increase in the future, but he is stepping up in class here and in under sufferance to boot, he clearly has a very stiff task here.
Prior to being tried over a mile, this son of Al Mufti had only failed to fill a place in the Trifecta twice in seventeen starts. He hasn’t won in five tries on sand, but again, he has always finished in the first About The Pace three. He was only touched The speed is usually on over off in the very last stride in his today’s trip and with a number latest outing on the surface of the runners here preferring to and should be thereabouts race up with, or close to the again. action, at least a fair pace should Across The Ice be forthcoming. In command The dark horse of the race is of a nice turn of foot, Storm the 4yo Across The Ice. Sean Crossing is at his very best over Tarry’s charge has shown today’s course and distance and Xilomante A winner of the listed flashes of real ability and although on paper there are a Queen Of The Sand Stakes having been kept in plate races few weighted to challenge last time out, Paul Matchett’s against very good sorts, he strongly, he is taken to win.
Antonius Pius
HIGHLANDS Sires 2011:
Master Blaster
could well be better than rated. He was less than six lengths behind Storm Crossing when making his debut on the surface in a pinnacle event over 1000m last time out and he is now 6,5kg better off at the weights with that one.
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HIGHLANDS Tel: Mike Sharkey 082 372 2682 www.highlandsfarmstud.co.za